Russian hate crimes escalate
MOSCOW (IPS)–For Nigerian Okaro Davidson Chibo, 35, a seemingly harmless ride in the Moscow subway ended up quite ugly. In late January, he was beaten up and seriously injured by four young Muscovites. The police detained four suspects and indicated the youngsters probably belonged to a group of skinheads with racist, right-wing views. It was not an...
Sudan delegation returns; Findings reflect new UN report: no genocide in Darfur
FCN Editorial - Clear the cloud of confusion over Sudanese conflict (02-10-2005)EU restores ties with Sudan and offers aid (FCN, 02-09-2005) WASHINGTON (FinalCall.com) - The ongoing high profile condemnations in this country of the Sudanese government are “counterproductive and inaccurate,” according to a group of Black media, human rights and community leaders who have just returned from that country....
Fight for reparations continue in Jamaica
MONTEGO BAY (IPS)–Although she is busy organizing a national conference on reparations for African slavery and helping collate information on its economic impact in Jamaica, Barbara Blake Hannah is sure that the project will not be completed soon. "It's not a tomorrow thing. I'm talking about for my grandchildren, but it has to begin now," she stresses. Ms. Blake...
U.S. companies profit from war in northern Iraq
INCIRLIK, Turkey (IPS)–Every day United States Air Force F-15 Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons roar aloft over the Kurdish quarter of the city of Adana, about an hour's drive inland from the Mediterranean coast of central Turkey, to patrol the skies over Northern Iraq. The jet pilots are catered and housed at the Incirlik military base...
BBC’s Survey says U.S. president is dangerous
(FinalCall.com) - A majority of people who responded to questions from the BBC's World Service global poll said they feared that the 43rd president of the United States may do more harm than good. The survey, which took place from Nov. 15 to Jan. 5, polled 500 to 1,800 people in each nation. The margin of error in extrapolating the...
World reacts to second term of George W. Bush
Mandela blasts George Bush as threat world peace (Commondreams News, 01-30-2003) UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com) - George W. Bush was sworn in as the 43rd president of the United States on January 20, but the Arab press did not react to his inaugural speech until Jan. 22. The papers generally said Mr. Bush's commitment to spread freedom and democracy...
As violence mounts, Iraq prepares for elections
JIM.LOBE Worst day in Iraq for U.S. forces as 36 US troops die in copter crash, clashes (Albawaba, 01-26-2005)Iraq Elections: Farce of the Century (IslamOnline, 01-26-2005)Guidance to America and the World in a Time of Trouble (FCN, 05-03-2005) WASHINGTON (IPS/GIN) - While the world's attention has been focused on the catastrophic natural events in South Asia, the manmade situation in...
S. Africa struggles with immigration and brain drain
JOHANNESBURG (IPS)–After years of consultation with labor unions, business organizations and academicians, a new Immigration Act was unveiled late in 2002 and immediately stirred a controversy. This replacement for the notorious Aliens Control Act, which for years was used to block Black African immigration, had the support of South Africa's largest labor federation, the Congress of South African...
White farmers in South Africa exploit workers, diplomat charges
HARARE, Zimbabwe (PANA)–South African Labor Minister Membathisi Mdladlana said recently that White farmers in his country grossly exploited Zimbabwean immigrant farm workers, most of whom entered the country illegally. Mr. Mdladlana was in Harare for talks with his Zimbabwean counterpart on how to harmonize labor laws between the two countries when he made the statements. An estimated two million...
Deadly cyanide dump unearthed near Namibia coast
GINNEWS WINDHOEK, Namibia (GIN)–Twelve drums of highly toxic calcium cyanide, plus loads of other chemicals, including nitric and sulphuric acid, were left behind when its owners abandoned the Namib Lead Mine about four years ago. The drums pose a serious danger to the health of thousands of people in the vicinity. They were recently found in an abandoned mine in the...