Africa
Somali pirates to aid Haitian earthquake victims?
An account from the pan-Latin American Matriz del Sur agency claims that Somalia’s pirates are seeking to send booty as aid to Haiti’s earthquake victims.
Iraq
Iraq to sue US, Britain over depleted uranium
Iraq’s Ministry for Human Rights will file a lawsuit against the US and UK over their use of depleted uranium bombs based on findings of an increase in birth defects.
Watching the Shadows
Federal jury convicts Pakistani woman of attempted murder of US personnel
A jury in New York convicted Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman with alleged ties to al-Qaeda, on charges of attempting to murder US personnel at an Afghan facility.
Watching the Shadows
Switzerland to accept two Uighur Gitmo detainees
The Swiss Federal Council announced that it would accept two Uighur detainees from Guantánamo Bay, despite warnings from China that the move would hurt relations.
Watching the Shadows
Holder defends decision to try plane bombing suspect in federal court
Under pressure from Republicans for a military tribunals, Attorney General Eric Holder defended his decision to charge the suspected “Christmas Day bomber” in federal court.
Afghanistan
Deadly attack on military advisors reveals Pentagon role in Pakistan
The deaths of three US Special Forces troops in a Taliban suicide attack in Pakistan reveal the existence of a military assistance program that authorities have sought to keep quiet.
Africa
ICC orders pre-trial chamber to reconsider al-Bashir genocide charges
The International Criminal Court’s Appeals Chamber reversed a Pre-Trial Chamber decision that denied the application for genocide charges against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.
Planet Watch
US, Russia agree to nuclear arms reduction treaty
The US and Russia have reached an agreement for the first nuclear weapons treaty since 1991, calling for reductions in both the number of warheads and delivery systems.
North America
Ninth Circuit rules “millennium bomber” sentence too lenient
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the 22-year prison term for so-called “millennium bomber” Ahmed Ressam, finding that a district court imposed a too lenient sentence.
North America
Tenth Circuit splits on injunction against Oklahoma immigration law
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an injunction against an Oklahoma anti-immigrant law, but did permit the state to enact provisions mandating employer use of E-Verify.
Mexico
Mexico: electrical workers start sit-in
In Mexico’s first major demonstration of 2010, thousands of unionists and campesinos marched on the capital’s main plaza, continuing a tradition of annual protests against NAFTA.
North America
Maximum sentence for SOA protesters
US federal magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth surprised observers by sentencing three activists to six-month prison terms for trespassing on the US Army’s Fort Benning base.