Karzai Demands End to U.S. Air Strikes

8-9 May 09 | AWC News, CNN and LAT

Record toll of Farah Attack renews outrage over bombing villages.

Sri Lanka: Repeated Shelling of Hospitals Evidence of War Crimes

8 May 09 | HRW

30 attacks reported on medical facilities since December.

Group Condemns FEMA Move to Evict Thousands of Katrina Survivors

8 May 09 | Raw Story

A Federal Emergency Management Agency deadline at the end of May that will leave thousands homeless in its wake was condemned by the U.S. Human Rights Network on Friday. The group called the move to reclaim temporary housing offered to victims of Hurricane Katrina a “violation of International law.”

UN: Pakistan Unrest Displaces One Million

8 May 09 | PTV

A spokesman for the UN refugee agency says the recent outbreak of violence in northwest Pakistan has displaced a total of one million people.

Obama Renews Sanctions on Syria, Supports Syria-Israel Pact

8 May 09 | PTV and FT

Despite recent attempts to improve relations with Damascus, a senior official says the Obama administration has extended US sanctions on Syria.

Israel is Just Using Iran to Stall Progress on the Middle East

by Andrew Hamilton

8 May 09 | UKI

Israel is not Iran’s primary concern, or target, and never has been.

U.N. Security Council Members Can’t Agree on Gaza Debate

8 May 09 | Ha’aretz and HRW

If the UN fails to further investigate crimes committed during the conflict it will ensure stalemate, and more suffering for civilians.

Fannie Mae Taps Treasury for Further $19bn

8 May 09 | FT

Fannie Mae said on Friday it would draw a further $19bn of assistance from the US Treasury after a seventh consecutive quarterly loss – $23.2bn in the first quarter – drove its net worth below zero.

Triple Canopy to Replace Blackwater/Xe in Iraq

7 May 09 | AJE

Blackwater, a U.S. security firm, has halted its operations in Iraq, ending a controversial chapter for the company whose guards shot dead several civilians in Baghdad in 2007.

U.S. Military Officials Concede Killing Scores of Civilians in Afghan Strike

7-8 May 09 | AWC News, AJE, AI and PTV

The US military is backing off its previous claims that the Farah airstrike, which Afghan officials are now saying killed 147 civilians, was entirely manufactured by the Taliban and the US attacks only destroyed homes full of already dead bodies.

Pentagon Seeking More Weapons Spending: Afghanistan Costs Will Eclipse Iraq

8 May 09 | AWC News and Wired

Budget was originally presented as abandoning wasteful weapons spending, seeks increase.