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RUSSIA: Terrorists, hostages and double-speak

Boris Kagarlitsky, Moscow The number of dead and wounded in the Beslan tragedy was stunning, but so were the authorities' lies. They minimised the number of hostages and casualties. They said there were Arabs and "one black" among the terrorists.

News briefs

BRISBANE — On October 7, a snap protest was organised by the University of Queensland student union women's rights group outside the Liberal Party headquarters in Bowen Hills. The protest was in response to a Family First candidate's comments that

National shame job

In early 2004, the Kumbutjil Association was formed by residents of Darwin's One Mile Dam community to undertake projects in the community and address the profound health and safety issues confronting residents. According to community leader David

HAITI: The ravages of an unnatural disaster

Floods and mudslides killed more than 1000 people in one weekend in north and north-west Haiti as Tropical Storm Jeanne brushed by the nation on September 18-19. Tens of thousands are left homeless and destitute, their shops, livestock and crops

Demanding justice for asbestos victims

Tim Vollmer The community campaign is growing against James Hardie, a multinational company that has taken unethical and illegal corporate behaviour to new lows. The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has been at the

Loose cannons

Speaking clearly I "I understand that the enemy could misread what I say. That's why I try to be as clearly I can." — Emperor George Bush II, September 23. Speaking clearly II "Our strategy is to help the Iraqis help themselves. It's

Socialist vote 'puts us in a better position to fight back'

Alison Dellit The Socialist Alliance is likely to receive more than 12,000 votes across the 26 lower house seats it stood in, with slightly less votes in the Senate. It was the first time the alliance contested a federal election campaign with its

A woman's place is in the struggle: What's at stake for women in US election?

As the 1 million-strong March for Women's Lives came to a close in April, a young woman who'd travelled from Vermont to Washington, DC, said to me, "So now what do we do?" It's the key question. How we answer that question — especially in this

Actors portray refugee tragedy

SYDNEY — A cast of 60 actors, both amateur and professional, got together on October 4 at the Marrickville Town Hall to take part in a reading of writer Alex Broun's new play script, Dead in the Water, which is based on the on the firsthand

On the box

Yolngu Boy — A drama about the coming-of-age of three Aboriginal boys in Arnhem Land. SBS, Sunday, October 17, 8.30pm. Israel's Secret Weapon — The story of Israel's wall of silence over the imprisonment of nuclear bomb whistleblower Mordechai

Iraqi TPV-holders demand permanent protection

Sarah Stephen While Iraqis are dying from bombs and bullets as a result of Washington's continuing war against their country, the Australian government is refusing to issue visas and telling Iraqi refugees to return home. There are 4325 Iraqi

When injustice becomes law

Ruth Ratcliffe "The High Court of Australia's decision to keep refugee children imprisoned in detention centres makes it crystal clear that injustice has become law in this country", Lisa Macdonald from the Socialist Alliance said on October 6.