News from around the world

President Ben Ali’s last speech did not convince anyone. All day there were massive demonstrations, particularly in the capital Tunis, with tens of thousands of people demanding Ben Ali out.

The General Secretary of the Nava Sama Samaja Party was attacked at the airport by Aviation authority officials on 7th December while the police were looking on. Finally Bahu and all the rest are back safely. The vehicle was heavily damaged and several people received minor injuries.

The general strike called by the Portuguese unions against the austerity measures was supported by three million people according to the unions’ spokesperson.

NO to the new NATO-Strategy! Getting Active for Global Peace, Disarmament and the End of NATO! These are the slogans of the counter-summit organised in Lisbon this weekend.

The APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit conference of 21 countries and regions of Asia-Pacific region was held on November 13 and 14th in Yokohama, Japan.

The International Institute for Research and Education’s new campus in Pakistan has just run its its course. This year the Global Justice School will be in three cities: Amsterdam, Manila and Islamabad.

A great initiative to help the flood victims has been taken by comrade Toni Usman in Norway. He is a professional actor of television, film and stage in Norway. He has been able to organize a special theater performance in Oslo on 19th September.

Our articles on the floods in Pakistan have given details of how to send financial aid to the Labour Relief Fund. If it is more convenient for you, you can also send funds through the Europe Solidaire Sans Frontieres account.

Pakistan is facing worst ever floods of its history. Torrential rains have unleashed flash floods in different parts of the country since last three weeks. Water levies broke leaving the people exposed to flood water. More than 12 million people have suffered due to these floods. More than 650,000 houses have collapsed, mainly in villages. Thousands of acres of crops have been destroyed due to flood water. Houses, live-stock such as cattle’s and goats, household goods, clothes, shoes and other items have been destroyed. Residents of villages are currently without drinkable water, food, shelter and in need of clothes. In particular, the situation is dire for children and women and they are in desperate need of food and clothing. Disease is spreading fast in the areas affected due to lack of drinkable water. In particular, flu, fever, diarrhea, cholera have been noted and are spreading.

An unexpected, unthinkable, yet - concerning current circumstances - quite expectable and natural thing has occurred yesterday night. Three public social activists that have always expressed a consistent antifascist attitude and shunned civil indifference have been detained.