Recovered from FSRN’s earlier site.
Segment rundown
Dozens dead in the wake of the standoff at Algerian gas plant
At least 37 foreign hostages from 8 different countries are dead in the wake of a takeover of a plant in a remote Algerian gas field. The country's prime minister stated 29 militants allegedly linked to Al Qaeda were also killed. The standoff began last Wednesday and ended over the weekend when military forces raided the facility. It is unclear if the hostages died at the hands of their captors or as a result of the military action.
French airstrikes over Mali
An anti-government insurgency by persons described as Islamist militants continues in northern Mali. French forces carried out airstrikes in at least one city over the weekend. Discontent with the central government has long been a reality in the northern areas, where greivances pre-date many of the so-called Islamist uprisings in other parts of Africa.
Emira Woods, co-director of Foreign Policy In Focus, told The Real News Network that the current crisis is a direct result of international intervention in Libya.
"In the midst of this ongoing conflict for self determination and greater rights of the north, you enter these weapons - the heavy flow of weapons - from Libya. It's just been a recipe for disaster." (full interview: http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&I...)
The current government of Mali came to power through a coup. Last month, the United Nations approved a resolution to permit intervention by an African-led force. Former colonial power, France, sent troops on January 11th without UN approval.
Deadly gang rape trial opens in New Delhi
In India, the trial of men accused of a deadly gang rape began in so-called "fast track court" today. Their prosecution begins as another case has emerged in the state of Punjab. Shuriah Niazi has more from Bhopal.
The trial of five men accused of the December 16th rape of a medical student in New Delhi began today behind closed doors in a fast-track court formed for crimes against women. The 23 year old woman died days later from internal injuries suffered during the attack.
Today's court proceedings occurred behind closed doors, despite a petition from defense lawyers to open the trial to the media and the public. The trial has been adjurned until Thursday, when the judge will hear opening arguments.
Despite the public outcry, another brutal rape case has emerged. A young woman on her way to a job interview in the state of Punjab was allegedly pulled into a car, taken to a remote area, and raped repeatedly over the course of two days. The victim says the perpetrators recorded the assaults on the cell phones.
According to the police complaint, the victim says she was thrown out of the car after the assault. She is now receiving treatment in a regional hospital.
Shuriah Niazi, FSRN, Bhopal.
Mothers of Cd. Juárez disappeared demand access to forensic remains
A groups of mothers whose daughters disappeared from Ciudad Juárez arrived today in the capital of Chihuahua to demand that the governor help them find their missing relatives, dead or alive. Andalusia Knoll reports from Mexico City.
Participants in the Walk for Life and Justice for Women trekked for six days on foot in freezing temperatures to bring their demands to the doorstep of Chihuahua Governor César Duarte. They want access to forensic evidence and case files in the Ciudad Juárez morgue, where the remains of more than 130 individuals rest unidentified and unclaimed.
The families also want rapid responses from the authorities when women go missing.
The caravan participants brought along a coffin containing two bones, which authorities say are the physical remains of one of the participant's daughters. Families who have received bones say a cloud of doubt lingers over the closed cases due to unclear forensic evidence linking the remains to the missing persons.
The caravan followed the same path from Ciudad Juarez to Chihuahua City taken by Marisela Escobedo, an activist who was shot dead just over two years ago in front of the state government palace while demanding the arrest of the confessed killer of her teenage daughter.
Andalusia Knoll, FSRN, Mexico City.
Memorial held for Aaron Swartz
And finally, friends, colleagues, and admirers of internet activist and developer Aaron Swartz gathered for a memorial service Saturday in New York City. Among the speakers was David Isenberg of Freedom to Connect.
"Aaron wanted to talk about the big fights, te fights to make the world a better place. I'm afraid that Aaron's legacy is going to be dumbed down to hacker or copyfighter the way the media dumbed down the SOPA fight to Google vs. the telephone companies." (audio credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TiWqukvvyI)
Swartz committed suicide January 11th. His relatives and close friends have blamed what they describe as an overzealous government prosecution of charges stemming from the unauthorized downloading of academic papers as the major factor contributing to his suicide.
