World

The myth of Indonesia's development of East TimorThe latest round of UN-sponsored talks between Indonesia and Portugal this month keeps the door of hope open for East Timor's supporters. Yet the daily reality in that country

On October 9, the Italian government of Romano Prodi lost a vote of no confidence in the Italian lower house, the Chamber of Deputies. The fall of the Prodi government, which has been in office since the 1996 Italian general

Fernando Henrique Cardoso, leader of the centre-right Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB), was elected for a second term as Brazil's president on October 4. With Brazil's economy on the brink of a collapse similar to those

Official Indonesian reports of a relaxing of the "military operations zone" status of Irian Jaya (West Papua), and of a cease-fire agreement with OPM (Free Papua Movement) activists, are contradicted by the OPM's denial of such an

MEXICO CITY — October 2 was the 30th anniversary of the bloody suppression of the Mexican student movement, when the army opened fire on a demonstration in the Plaza of the Three Cultures in the Tlatelolco housing complex. For

Behind India's food crisisNEW DELHI — India stands on the brink of a food crisis to rival the darkest periods of its modern history. "In five years' time, this issue will be settled in the streets with riots, massacres,

Indonesian anti-military campaign gains supportThe Indonesian political establishment has finished celebrating two of its most "holy" days. These were Pancasila Day on October 1, celebrating the crushing of the Indonesian Communist

Nepali student movement holds conferenceKATHMANDU, NEPAL — The All Nepal National Free Student Union (ANNFSU), Nepal's largest student organisation and one of the world's largest left student organisations, held its 14th national

International news briefs Korean bank strike aborted A planned strike led by South Korea's Federation of Bank and Financial Labour Unions (KFBU) to defend 18,700 jobs was called off on September 29, the day it was scheduled to take place. The

Despite a chain of summit meetings since early October among the world's most powerful countries, they remain far from a solution to the spreading economic crisis which, exploding first in July last year in Asia, is threatening to

Renewed war in East Timor The Indonesian military has increased troop numbers in eastern East Timor and is engaged in a renewed war against the people, according to the Australian East Timor Network (AETN). AETN said last week that it has reliable

Despite its claim to be the world leader in human rights, the United States is failing to respect fundamental rights at home and abroad, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL said on October 6. AI has released a report on US human rights and launched its first