Iraq -
the fighting that continues on there is really serious especially in Najaf, yet the mainstream news outlets don't seem to be taking much notice. I never see any substantial footage or feature on the fighting on CNN or CBC these days or weeks actually. However there are heavy casualties on the Iraqi side especially Shiite cleric al-Sadr's militia and for the Americans, the number of dead servicemen/women keeps inching up. Still even the reporting of american casualties by western media may not be fully reliable as this story says.

Here's a transcript of a speech made last year by renowned Indian author and social-rights activist Arundhati Roy, on the invasion of Iraq by America. Very passionate and honest words.

Palestine/ Palestinian territories -
while a lot of the world's attention is focused on the Olympics, the troubles in this nearby region continue with officials of the UN strongly criticising the treatment of Palestinians under the Israeli regime. With these terribly unjust conditions that Palestinians live under, it's no wonder hatred and bitterness festers and grows in Palestinian youth.

An interesting discussion on the circumstances surrounding American Nick Berg's execution on video by supposed fundamentalists in Iraq. This deals with the American government's use of manipulations of half-truths and unsound facts to convince the public of the legitimacy of their war/occupation of Iraq.