World

New anti-terrorism bill targets dissent

New anti-terrorism bill targets dissent By Alec Smart LONDON — Legislation allowing police increased powers of arrest and detention is being fast-tracked through the British parliament. "Anti-terrorist" laws, rehearsed and fine-tuned in

South Africa: 'Guns not butter' budget criticised

South Africa: 'Guns not butter' budget criticised By Norm Dixon South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has been criticised for introducing an annual budget on February 23 that massively boosts spending for the armed services,

Indonesian IWD marchers demand working women's rights

Indonesian IWD marchers demand working women's rights By May Sari JAKARTA — Three hundred women and men marched from the Kapuk industrial area to Indonesia's parliament building on International Women's Day, March 8. IWD was not celebrated in

Palestinian Authority forced to release students

Students at Birzeit University celebrated the unconditional release of those imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the widespread crackdown that followed the February 26 demonstration against France's Prime Minister Lionel Jospin.

Arrests by Palestinian Authority provoke opposition

By Ahmad Nimer RAMALLAH — Recent events at the main Palestinian university, Birzeit University, have resulted in the growth of the most significant protest movement here since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA). For the first

Life in a Timorese village after independence

Life in a Timorese village after independence By Vanya Tanaja DILI — Whilst independence from Indonesian rule has been won, some things in East Timor have changed little. After the militia violence of September, many Timorese are worse off

Broad support for Scottish socialists

Broad support for Scottish socialists By Greg Harris EDINBURGH — The last weekend of February was the British Labour Party's 100th anniversary. On the same weekend, the young Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) held its second annual conference in

World Bank sneers at debt relief

World Bank sneers at debt relief WORLD BANK president James Wolfensohn told a media conference in Manila on February 26 that using Christianity's Jubilee year as a platform to campaign for debt relief for the Third World is "whimsical" and could

How long does it take to change a child's mind?

How long does it take to change a child's mind? The Cuban government has published, as a new booklet titled How long does it take to change the mind of a child?, a round table discussion with psychologists and other specialists reflecting on the

Australia signs new Timor Gap treaty

Australia signs new Timor Gap treaty The Australian government has signed a new treaty with the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor for the disposition of gas reserves in the Timor Sea. The Byun Undan Gas Recycling Development

Philippine police attack workers

Philippine police attack workers Several dozen heavily armed members of the Philippine National Police's tactical response unit attacked striking workers outside the Royal Sweets factory in the Manila suburb of Pasig on February 25. Some 200

Britain frees ex-dictator

By Lara Pullin The British home secretary Jack Straw has released former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, ostensibly on medical grounds. On March 2, the general left his country residence outside London and took a plane back to his native Chile.