Brazil’s Indigenous march to pressure court on land ruling
BRASILIA, Brazil—Thousands of Indigenous people marched toward Brazil’s Supreme Court in late August to pressure justices expected to issue a ruling with far-reaching implications for land rights. Wearing feather headdresses and with their bodies painted, they sang and danced along their three-mile route. The group, which had been camping in the capital behind the National Theater, is comprised of some...
Palestinians: West Bank teen wounded by Israeli gunfire dies
RAMALLAH, West Bank—A 13-year-old Palestinian died after being shot by Israeli troops during clashes with a stone-throwing crowd in the occupied West Bank, the official Palestinian news agency reported. The Palestinian Health Ministry said Ali Abu Alia was hit in the stomach and died later at a hospital. The Wafa news agency showed a photograph of the teen being carried...
Activists, politicians question U.S. hand in Haiti crisis
Haiti's Lawyer: U.S. Is Arming Anti-Aristide Paramilitaries (Democracy Now)Haitian President accepts int'l peace plan (XINHUA, 02/22/2004)Haiti at brink again - U.S. owes help (FCN, 02/16/2004)How the U.S. impoverished Haiti (FCN, 09/10/2003) WASHINGTON (FinalCall.com) - As the government of the second oldest independent country in the Western Hemisphere spins out of control and toward a bloody civil war or a...
Chinese president hails summit with Central Asia leaders as ushering in ‘new era’ of ties
Chinese President Xi Jinping has hailed a two-day summit with leaders of the Central Asian countries as ushering in a “new era” of relations. The Chinese leader made the comments on May 18 while addressing a welcome banquet for Central Asian leaders attending the China-Central Asia Summit, as Beijing strives to expand its reach into a strategically vital region...
Chocolate multinationals charged with complicity in Mali’s child slavery rings
(GIN)—A federal class action suit filed on behalf of eight Malian citizens against Nestle SA, Cargill, Hershey and Mars, Inc. among others for their alleged complicity in the trafficking and forced labor of African children, is now under review by the U.S. Supreme Court. The plaintiffs are former child slaves trafficked from Mali to harvest cocoa beans in Côte d’Ivoire,...
‘Stability of the region’ hangs on Myanmar, declares UN Special Envoy
UN Special Envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, warned on March 4 that the situation in the country challenges “the stability of the region” and could lead to a “real war.” Speaking at a virtual press conference, Ms. Burgener said the news out of Myanmar was shocking and, with the death of 38 people, marked the bloodiest day since the start of...
Bush accused of attack on environmental laws
NEW YORK (IPS)–The Bush administration is intensifying its assault on key environmental protection, according to a new analysis by natural resource activists. The report, released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), cites changes to the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act and the end to requirements for environmental review and public feedback when considering logging,...
UN votes overwhelmingly to condemn U.S. economic embargo on Cuba for 31st year and urges its lifting
UNITED NATIONS—The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Nov. 2 to condemn the American economic embargo of Cuba for a 31st year after its foreign minister urged, “Let Cuba live without the blockade!” The vote on the resolution in the 193-member General Assembly tied the record for support for the Caribbean island nation: The vote was 187 in favor, with the United...
Sudan summons Ethiopia envoy over bodies found in river
CAIRO—Sudan has summoned Ethiopia’s envoy to the country over an incident where bodies were found floating down the river separating the two nations, as civil war wages in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, Sudan’s foreign ministry said. The ministry said in a statement late Sept. 7 that it summoned Ambassador Petal Amero on Aug. 30 to inform him about the discovery of...
Nicaragua takes complaint to UN over U.S. refusal to pay compensation for backing death squad
Nicaragua has lodged a complaint with the UN against the U.S. for its refusal to comply with a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordering it to compensate Managua for its support of a notorious death squad in the 1980s. The announcement was made by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega at a ceremony in Managua commemorating the 37th anniversary...