International

Cuban researchers have developed the first synthetic vaccine against the bacteria that causes pneumonia and meningitis, the main cause of almost half of the infections of children under five in the developing world. According to UNICEF, haemophilus influenzae type B kills one half million children each year.

Facing pressure from a Supreme Court challenge and increasing tension over the issue with the British government, the Bush administration has decided to release up to 100 of the estimated 660 prisoners from 44 countries held at Guantanamo Bay.

Israel and Palestine: Majority favors two-state plan / Kenya: Union leaders against cuts / Venezuela: Alternative proposed to FTAA / United Kingdom: Rail workers to switch parties? / Canada: Demand hearings on missile defense / Japan: New anti-missile venture with U.S.

LONDON – Over 400,000 peace protesters poured into central London Nov. 20 in a deafening display of anger at “Texan terrorist” George Bush’s state visit.

“Because we want peace and social justice;
because we can’t let Colombia be dominated by violence;
because we love life, and believe that another Colombia is possible,
that another world is possible.”
– Juan Carlos Galvis

U.S. military families, along with veterans, undertook an unprecedented mission this week. They traveled to Iraq as part of a seven-day tour of duty for peace. click here for Spanish text

In October, Chicagoans Beatrice Lumpkin and her husband Frank, the chairman of the Wisconsin Steelworkers Save Our Jobs Committee, traveled to Vietnam for two weeks. Here are some of Beatrice’s travel notes.

MILWAUKEE – A few U.S citizens who have never had any contact or connection with the mining industry have begun to receive unexpected official mail from the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Board.

News Analysis

The recent passage in both houses of Congress of the “Syrian Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act” is but one facet of a relentless buildup of U.S. pressure on Damascus.

MIAMI – La administración Bush tenía las esperanzas que se negociara un acuerdo de libre comercio, en la cumbre de ministros de comercio exterior reunidos en esta ciudad los del 18 al 20 de noviembre. Oponentes del convenio dicen que esto permitiría a las corporaciones saquear a las Américas.