A stir is being caused by a probe by the Russian state prosecuter over Shulan Arukh, a sixteenth-century commentary on Halakha (Jewish law), written in Safed, in what is now northern Israel. The prosecuter is checking if some comments in… Read moreRussia probes Jewish Law text for “incitement”
After an international campaign brought shame on the government of Pakistan, a turnaround in the case of Mukhtaran Mai. Two weeks ago she was under arrest and her attackers were free. Now the reverse is true. Defendants in Pakistan’s Infamous… Read moreTurnaround in Mukhtaran Mai case
A little-reported story from Paraguay on an eviction of peasants from contested lands by the private gunmen of local big land-owners (apparently Brazilians), backed up by the army and police. It is the biotech opponents who are distributing this news,… Read morePeasants killed by Paraguay paramilitaries
If the Iraq war is not about oil, somebody forgot to tell the editors of the New York Times and, it seems, the leadership of the People’s Republic of China. On June 27, the Times runs a front-page story on… Read moreUS oil dominance fuels China’s Unocal bid
Israeli pot activists try to stone the Gush: Settlers Urged to Smoke Pot During Gaza Evacuation Gush Katif, Gaza Strip (CNSNews.com — June 27) – Activists of all stripes are flocking to the Gaza Strip, some to lobby for pet… Read moreSome settlers to stone back?
As we noted yesterday, reportage on the oil market jittters sparked by the Iran elections included a quote from one analyst predicting an imminent rise to $100 a barrel. This ominous figure is being heard more and more. The Wall… Read more“Peak oil” hits mainstream
The UK Business Telegraph reports June 27 that Iran’s president-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a fundamentalist hardliner who won the run-off three days ago as a darkhorse populist candidate, has called for a radical shake-up of the country’s oil industry and a… Read moreIran: new president strikes fear in oil markets
It seems that Mommar Qaddafi’s Libya, of all places, has been overlooked by the current Bush “regime change” offensive. Now that sanctions have been lifted, an opposition is starting to emerge, and appears (in contrast to its counterparts in Syria,… Read moreLibyan opposition meets to demand Qaddafi’s ouster
The following is from a speech by farmer Sharif Omar of Jayyous in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a long-time leader of the Palestinian non-violent movement and member of Qalqilya District’s Land Defense Committee. This speech was given at a May… Read morePalestinian non-violent leader calls for boycotts
As we’ve recently noted, nothing makes the 9-11 “skeptics” (who are actually among the most gullible people in the world) giddier than a whiff of vindication from The Establishment. Pretty ironic, given that their entire world view is predicated on… Read moreConspiranoiacs get Reaganoid champion
Now let’s see… This is the same United States of America that initiated war against Iraq for allegedly stonewalling UN inspectors, right? Thanks to TruthOut for passing this one along. UN Experts Cite Guantanamo Torture Reports By Bradley S. Klapper… Read moreUS stonewalls UN on Gitmo torture
It was wonderful to see photos in the newspapers today of Hindu pilgrims making their way up mountain trails in the disputed Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir for the annual yatra or pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave, where Shiva is… Read moreKashmir: Amarnath Yatra peaceful this year
