Cité Soleil in mourning for murdered community radio station manager

Reporters Without Borders is deeply saddened by the news that radio journalist Jean Liphète Nelson was gunned down yesterday in Cité Soleil, the poorest neighbourhood of the capital, Port-au-Prince. »

Dramatic Appeal to Combat Cholera in Haiti and Dominican Republic

Dramatic improvements in water and sanitation services are needed to eliminate cholera in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, health experts who took part in a UN-organized briefing to outline concrete steps to stem the spread of the disease in the region stressed. »

Haiti Two Years After, Still ‘Beset by Chronic Poverty’

Geneva – Two years after the devastating earthquake that flattened Haiti, the country remains “a fragile State, beset by chronic poverty and under-development. Its weak institutions leave children vulnerable to shocks and the impact of disaster”. »

Marshall Islands’ People Still Displaced After 60 Years of Nuclear Tests

A “durable solution” has yet to be found to the displacement of communities affected by nuclear testing more than sixty years ago in the Marshall Islands, a UN independent expert warned. »

Argentina Film Opens Latin Cinema Festival in Sydney

The Argentine film "Cuestion de principios" (A Question of Principles) by Rodrigo Grande opens the 5th Latin American Cinema Festival in Sydney on Wednesday, which will screen over 60 movies in almost 20 days. "Cuestion de principios" is inspired by the book of the same title by the late writer Roberto Fontanarrosa, who helped the filmmaker with the script.»

Nuclear Abolition Flame starts its route

Petra Klein carried the Nuclear Abolition Flame, lit from the flame in Hiroshima's Peace Park. She said she wanted people to understand the strength of unity in the name of peace. "People think 'what can I do?' but for peace to work each single person is important." Tauranga Simon Bridges said "It is very good to be part of this small but important part of the world march."»

Homs Opposition: Al Farouq Battalion is Killing Us

It is extremely rare to have a direct peephole into events on the ground in Syria. The hard-fought battle over narratives often leaves truth in the dust. But among the cache of recently leaked emails (exclusive to Al Akhbar) from Syrian National Council (SNC) President Burhan Ghalioun’s inbox, comes this gem... (read on)»

Crunch Time in Syria: The UN Protocol’s Jihadist Problem

1) Cautious, incremental movement toward political reconciliation and reform spearheaded by the Syrian government and closely monitored by Kofi Annan’s UN mission, Moscow, Tehran and Beijing.

2) Dangerous escalation of violence and militarization that will increasingly include foreign jihadists and is likely spill over into the broader Middle East.»

Prosecution to Dr. Meir Margalit, a defender of Human Rights

Dr. Meir Margalit, a Council member of the Municipality of Jerusalem and activist for human rights in East Jerusalem, especially in the area of home demolitions by the Jerusalem Municipality, is being brought to court by the Ministry of Interior of Israel, accused of illegal construction in a clear attempt to silence his voice.»

Argentina: Europe Frets and Fumes over YPF Nationalisation

Despite being immensely popular among the people of Argentina, the Argentinean government's decision to nationalize the YPF (Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales) oil company has continued to come under attack by those who obstinately promote extractive capitalism. The measure would nationalize YPF and restore 51 percent of the company's ownership to Argentina. »

Celebrating 43 years of the launch of the Humanist Movement

Humanists everywhere across the Earth celebrated yet another anniversary of the emergence of the Humanist Movement, launched on May 4, 1969, with public presentations and in particular that by its founder, Silo, a harangue known as "The Healing of Suffering". This was given in the Andes, in Punta de Vacas, near the border between Argentina and Chile. A declaration follws:»

Court quashes defamation conviction on appeal, spares journalist jail time

“I have the feeling that justice has finally been done after the offensive launched against me,” provincial TV journalist Teobaldo Meléndez Fachín told RWB yesterday, referring to an appeal court ruling 10 days ago overturning his November conviction on a charge of “aggravated defamation".»

Fishing for trouble

The declarations of ‘no fishing’ in the seas around the disputed rocks off the coast of the Philippines by first China, then the Philippines, has wider ramifications and the David and Goliath scenario needs careful judgement, especially by ‘David’! The big picture includes the USA’s strategic encirclement of China. Beware Philippines.»

All Japan’s nuclear reactors shut down

The Annual General Meeting of Abolition 2000 Global Network for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons unanimously adopted a statement: “Welcoming the Shut-Down of All of Japan’s Nuclear Reactors. The news that the last of country's 54 nuclear reactors went offline for maintenance also sparked celebrations among Japan’s anti-nuclear protesters.»

Bangladesh-Japan: Bridging worlds

The Kansai-Bangladesh Project (KBP) works to create sustainable programmes with local people in Bangladesh. It is run by Sachiko Matsunaga-Jack with the support of David Jack, who has a similar organisation,Fieldwork. The couple have been active in Bangladesh for many years now and have concentrated on indigenous groups support and encouragement, plus environmental affairs.»

Police March through London against the Cuts. Will they also join May 12th Global Day of Action?

More than 20,000 off-duty police officers took to the streets yesterday against the Government cuts. Both at the 2010 students’ demos against tuition fees and last year’s TUC marches against austerity measures Police were told: “your jobs are next on the line”. As many cities around the world prepare for more Occupy/Indignados actions, are we all in the same boat yet?»

Surface-to-air Missiles on London Rooftops. No, Really. It’s the Olympic Games

Plans to install surface-to-air missiles on the rooftops of buildings within 2 miles of London's Olympic Stadium with 10 troops to operate them have been met with anger and disbelief by the buildings’ dwellers. The city prepares for a £1 billion full blown police and military alert to respond to possible terrorist attacks. Some pensioners refusing to pay the London-wide levy»

Rupert Murdoch, the UK hacking scandal and the power of the Media

Many may feel satisfied to see the most ruthless media mogul of our times apologising for illegal activities such as hacking into private conversations, not just of the rich and famous, but also of murder victims’ relatives, just to sell more papers. He is not apologising, however, for the manipulation of the people to favour this or that politician, nor are the politicians.»