Europe
Anti-NATO protests rock Strasbourg
Police used tear gas and arrested some 100 protesters in Strasbourg, France, on the eve of a two-day summit marking the 60th anniversary of the NATO alliance.
The Andes
Venezuela: Coca-Cola plant replaced with “socialist commune”
A former Coca-Cola plant in the Caracas suburb of Catia is to be taken over for a cooperative public housing development under an agreement between the company and local municipal government.
Iran
Chávez disses G20, opens joint bank with Iran
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, on a visit to Iran as the G20 summit opens in London, denounced capitalism and announced the founding of a joint Iranian-Venezuelan binational bank.
The Amazon
Peru: oil rush accelerates, government weighs new reserves for uncontacted tribes
Peru’s state oil company announced it will auction off up to twelve new “lots” for oil and gas exploration—including in reserves inhabited by uncontacted indigenous tribes.
The Andes
Ecuador: indigenous leaders file suit against new mining law
The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) filed a lawsuit asking that the country’s new mining law—which sparked angry protests this year—be declared unconstitutional.
Watching the Shadows
Hugo Chávez offers to accept Gitmo detainees
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez said he is willing to accept detainees from the Guantánamo Bay military prison. But his ally China is demanding extradition of the 17 Uighurs detained at Gitmo.
Greater Middle East
US judge grants habeas petition for Yemeni Gitmo detainee
A judge for the US District Court in Washington granted a habeas corpus petition filed by Yemeni Guantánamo Bay detainee Yasin Muhammed Basardh, ordering his release from the prison.
Afghanistan
US judge lets Afghanistan detainees’ habeas challenge proceed
A federal judge in Washington DC ruled that three detainees being held at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan can proceed with habeas corpus challenges to their detention.
South Asia
Pakistan high court suspends decision barring ex-PM Sharif from elected office
In another win for the opposition, Pakistan’s Supreme Court suspended its February decision barring former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from holding elected office.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan: Karzai “legalizes rape”
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai, in political trading ahead of this year’s elections, has signed a Shia Family Law that women’s advocates at the UN say “legalizes” rape.
Iraq
Iraq: labor conference pledges to fight for workers’ rights, against privatization
Union leaders from around the world gathered for the First International Iraqi Labor Conference in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, pledging to support workers’ struggles in Iraq, and fight privatization.
Iran
Petraeus: Israel may bomb Iran
Israel may attack Iran to prevent it from developing a nuclear bomb, Gen. David Petraeus, the top US commander in the Middle East, told the Senate Armed Services Committee.