The UK has fallen into the UN's bad books. A United Nations report has been highly critical of Britain's human rights record during the War on Terror, citing basic human rights breaches and Britain's efforts "to conceal illegal acts" in the fight against terrorism. What human right breaches could these be? The rendition of Binyam Mohamed, recently released from CIA 'custody' after being tortured with a little help from MI5? Rendition and torture that David Milliband, Jack Straw and the Ministry of Defence denied and claimed Britain would never condone? Is the UN lying to us?
Workers in a packaging plant in Dundee refuse to pack up. Seven of 12 sacked workers have held a sit-in protest after being fired without a week's notice, or accrued holiday or redundancy pay or their entitled wages. One worker, Matthew, told SchNEWS: "We decided we're not leaving until we receive what we're entitled to. We're not giving them the opportunity to lock the doors while we're out so we end up with nothing...we've received great local support and massive media interest".
China loves a good party - as long as it doesn't involve Tibet or the Dalai Lama. China has flooded Tibet with thousands of soldiers and paramilitary police in order to control any disturbances during the 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's exile. Mobile phone services and Pro-Tibet websites are closed for "maintenance" during the celebrations, and over 100 monks have been "taken for political re-education". Over 1000 Tibetans are still missing after Chinese authorities arrested protesters during last year's celebrations.
The Middle East and North Africa is no place for human rights activists, according to Amnesty International. Amnesty says that human right activists in the Middle East and Africa operate in "an environment of fear". Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director, Malcolm Smart said: "Across the region, those who stand up for human rights and expose violations by state authorities often incur great risks by doing so".
Clowns be warned - custard pie attacks can land you in attack. The climate change protester who threw green custard over business secretary Lord Mandelson has been arrested. Leila Deen, 29, was bailed and is set to return to the police station in April. Lord Mandelson has revealed that the attack has left him with a "slight irritation" to his face.
Can a crisis be resolved in 72 hours? The government of Madagascar hopes so, after the army gave the islands feuding incumbent opposition and government just 72 hours to end a crisis that has plunged the country into chaos. Stand-offs between the opposition and the government have killed over 130 people and devastated the economy.
More dirty, lazy students have caused trouble at a university - in gay Paris. Over 200 students, angry at education reform plans, have blockaded campus entrances with tables and chairs. The students are worried that the loss of teaching jobs will lead to overcrowded classes and a lack of subject choices.
Darfur is a bleak looking place for its president and its people. President al-Bashir has become one of Africa's most wanted men after the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest (for war crimes and crimes against humanity), but that has not stopped him from expelling 13 aid agencies working in the region. Oxfam and Medicins sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders) face recalling all their staff from the region. Over one million people could face serious food shortages thanks to the President's decision.
Is a banned protest still a protest? The Kazakstan government would like to think not. The government has issued instructions that political public gatherings should be avoided until the current economic crisis is over. Nevertheless over 20 members of various political groups staged a protest in a town square, a protest which lead to seven people being detained.
A jailed Afghan journalist has found out his fate a month after it was sealed. Convicted of downloading information on women's rights from the internet, Sayed Parwez Kasbahs, 24, faces a 20 year sentence for blasphemy. Kasbah was hoping to have the sentence overturned but was recently told the Supreme Court has decided to uphold the sentence.
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