January 31-February 2:
Tacoma, WA: With two charges of "conduct unbecoming an officer" having been dropped in the impending court martial of Lt. Ehren Watada, the U.S. Army has dismissed its subpeona for testimony from independent journalist Sarah Olson and Honolulu Star-Bulletin reporter Greg Harkesako. The dismissal of these two charges against Watada both reduce his possible prison term by two years as well as remove any threat of prison time for Ms. Olson who had stated the opinion that journalists should not be forced to testify in the prosecution of free speech. The turn around of events is being heralded as a victory for the rights of a free press. The Free Press Working Group has the story here. For an interview with Sarah Olson follow this link to Democracy Now.

Genoa, Italy: The trial against some 25 activists for "sacking and devastation" during the July 2001 Group of 8 Summit got under way once again on January 16; this, after a long delay in the proceedings. The activists are being supported by the organization Supporto Legale, which is also bringing legal proceedings against the police for violence, torture and abuse of power. Global Indymedia has the story here.

Washington, D.C: In a move reminiscent of the Bush Administration's pre-Iraq invasion progaganda campaign, U.S. officials in both Washington, D.C. and Baghdad reportedly will be unveiling new evidence which implicates Iran in attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq. According to State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack, the administration has evidence which implicates Iran in Sectarian attacks against Iraq's Sunni minority as well as U.S. forces there. Read more here.