Iran
Iran: more labor leaders arrested
Several trade unionists have been arrested by the intelligence police in Iran, as part of the government’s effort to impose the Islamic Labor Council to undermine independent unions.
South Asia
Pakistan: ex-PM defies house arrest order, leads opposition march
Pakistan opposition leader and ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif defied a house arrest order to lead a huge opposition march against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Afghanistan
US bombs Pakistan —again
Two Hellfire missiles fired by US Predator drones reportedly killed four militants in strikes on a house in Jani Khel village near Bannu, North Waziristan.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan: journalist’s blasphemy sentence upheld
Afghanistan’s Supreme Court has upheld a 20-year prison term for Parwiz Kambakhsh, 24, a journalist accused of “blasphemy” for writing an article advocating greater rights for women under Islam.
Central America
Salvadorans march against free trade deal with Europe
Salvadorans marched against the Central America free trade agreement currently being negotiated with the European Union, charging it would increase the gap between rich and poor.
Central America
US pledges to respect neutrality in Salvador elections —despite GOP bluster
On March 11—just four days before El Salvador’s historic election for president and vice-president—five Republican Congressmen gave speeches on the floor of the House of Representatives threatening that Salvadorans living in the US would lose their immigration status and be… Read moreUS pledges to respect neutrality in Salvador elections —despite GOP bluster
Africa
Mauritania crisis mediation fails; still no justice for enslaved Blacks
Libya-brokered talks between the military junta and opposition broke down in Mauritania—while former Black slaves protest that laws abolishing slavery in the country have had little effect.
Africa
International lines drawn in Sudan war crimes warrant
While the Arab League is solidly rejecting the war crimes indictment against Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir, divisions are emerging within the African Union, UN and even Sudan’s Islamist movement.
Palestine
US peace activist critically injured on West Bank
US peace activist Tristan Anderson, of Oakland, Calif., was critically wounded when he was struck in the head by a tear-gas cannister launched by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank village of Ni’lin, west of Ramallah, March 13. Four Palestinians… Read moreUS peace activist critically injured on West Bank
Watching the Shadows
Obama administration drops “enemy combatant” nomenclature
The Obama administration officially abandoned the term “enemy combatant,” stating in a Justice Department brief that it will seek a new standard for authority to hold detainees at Guantánamo Bay.
Watching the Shadows
Maine neo-Nazi prepared “dirty bomb”?
Maine millionaire and neo-Nazi sympathizer James G. Cummings, slain by his wife in December, allegedly had the radioactive components necessary to build a “dirty bomb.”
Watching the Shadows
“Terrorist watch” list hits 1 million
The government’s terrorist watch list has hit 1 million entries, according to figures released to USA Today—up 32% since 2007.