ICE officials confirmed on May 11 that they raided five homes on the East End of Long Island in New York over the week of May 7, arresting 18 people who they said lacked immigration status. Some of those arrested… Read moreICE raids in Long Island, New Jersey
On May 17, key Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and the administration of President George W. Bush reached a compromise agreement on a Senate immigration reform bill after months of closed-door negotiations. (Arizona Republic, May 18) Under the plan,… Read moreSenate immigration bill: attack on the family?
Patriarch Alexy II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, gave Russian President Vladimir Putin an icon May 17, as a token of appreciation for his contribution to the unification of the Moscow-based Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside… Read moreRussian Orthodox reunification: more fodder for West Bank conflict?
A package of constitutional amendments approved May 18 by Kazakhstan’s parliament allow President Nursultan Nazarbayev to remain in office for the rest of his life. Under Kazakhstan’s current constitution, Nazarbayev—who has been in power since the 1991 collapse of the… Read moreKazakhstan moves towards permanent autocracy; Russia signs nuclear pact
Gunmen climbed down from rooftop positions in Gaza late May 19, as Hamas and Fatah leaders agreed to end a week of factional bloodshed in in response to new Israeli airstrikes on the Strip. May 19 marked a fifth day… Read moreGaza: Israeli airstrikes bring Palestinian truce
Lebanese security forces fought militants linked to al-Qaeda in the northern city of Tripoli and at the adjacent Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared early May 20, leaving at least 10 dead, including four police. Witnesses said gunmen from the… Read moreLebanon: army clashes with al-Qaeda?
India’s intelligence agencies are examining a telephone card and cellphone supposedly recovered from a deactivated exlposive found at Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad, scene of the deadly May 18 bombing. The card was reportedly purchased by one Shahed Bilal, said to… Read moreMuslim militants behind Hyderabad mosque bombing?
Estonia, one of the most wired societies in Europe, has been subject in recent weeks to massive and coordinated cyber-attacks on government, banking and telecommunications wesbites, Internet service providers and news organizations. Computer security specialists call it an unprecedented assault… Read moreRussian cyber-attacks target Estonia?
Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe has ordered his military to intensify efforts to free hostages in the hands of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC)—asserting that they are being held in “concentration camp” conditions “more cruel” than those of the Nazis…. Read moreColombia: Uribe calls for military raids to rescue FARC hostages
A home-made bomb ripped through a bus terminal in Mindanao’s Cotabato City May 18, killing three and injuring 15 others. About half of the casualties were children. Authorities said the motive was probably extortion, as the bus company had been… Read moreMore terror in Mindanao
Mohamed Meziane, president of Algeria’s energy parastatal Sonatrach, meeting with US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman in Washington, said he wants to triple natural gas exports to the US from 4 billion to 12 billion cubic metres per year by 2015…. Read moreAlgeria seeks closer US energy ties
An Israeli airstrike targeting a minivan supposedly carrying a Hamas fighter in northern Gaza City killed three people and wounded 12 on May 18. Israeli tanks also fired five shells near a housing project in the northern Gaza town of… Read moreGaza: towards re-occupation?
