World

The Washington Post reported on June 18 that 340 air strikes have been carried out by US forces in Afghanistan over the past three months. According to a Reuters report, more than double the number of air strikes were carried out in Afghanistan than

A Workers Charter political movement was launched at an Auckland conference, attended by more than 100 activists, on October 22. A draft charter (see <http://workerscharter.org.nz&#062;) was endorsed and will now be taken around the country for

Kim Bullimore In a dangerous game of brinkmanship with the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority government of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, PA President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads the main opposition Fatah party, issued a presidential decree on June 10

Susan Price & Margarita Windisch, Caracas Venezuelans celebrated across the country on October 28 to mark the official declaration that the Bolivarian republic has now become officially free of illiteracy. The day also marked the birthday of Simon

The government of the Czech Republic has sent a letter to the Communist Youth Movement (KSM) announcing its intention to ban the organisation. The letter justified the move by claiming the KSM's goals interfere with those of Czech political parties,

Roberto Jorquera On June 29, web-based news service Venezuelanalysis.com reported that several people were attacked at a protest opposing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The angry protest was caught on tape by the state-run television channel

Jon Lamb Political tensions within the East Timorese elite continue to simmer amidst preparation for the first sitting of parliament since the arrival of the Australian-led international security force. The parliament is expected to discuss and

Doug Lorimer A secret survey of Iraqi public opinion undertaken in August for the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) shows that up to 65% of Iraqis support attacks by the Iraqi armed resistance on the US-led occupation forces. Reporting on the

Lara Pullin Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN) leader Schafik Jorge Handal — Comandante "Simon" — died suddenly of a heart attack on January 24. He collapsed at the airport on his return to El Salvador from Evo Morales's

On June 24, Durban, East London, Cape Town and Johannesburg each hosted hundreds-strong protests demanding that US President George Bush spend money on health care over warfare. The protests were organised by the Treatment Action Campaign, which

Kim Bullimore According to a June 9 Bloomberg report, Hamas has "vowed to renew attacks" on Israeli forces in the wake of the deaths of at least 12 Palestinians during an Israeli artillery bombardment of the Gaza Strip. In March last year Hamas

Murray Smith The mobilisation for the one-day strike and day of action on October 4 called by a united front of French trade unions was expected to be massive, and it lived up to expectations. Across the country there were an estimated 1.3 million