30 March: Teacher whose contract was not renewed after she answered a student's question about whether she would attend a peace rally, expressing her opinion about why it was good citizenship, loses suit for wrongful termination; judge rules "teachers, including Ms. Mayer, do not have a right under the First Amendment to express their opinions with their students during the instructional period"... TIME magazine has reported global warming is a fact, a direct result of human activity, which is causing widespread environmental distruction and upheaval, and that it needs to be dealt with, lest it comprehensively disrupt human civilization; Nightline reports widespread disruption of arctic ecosystems, including visible part of largest extinction since dinosaurs... Scientists believe adding stem cells to spinal-implant hydrogels —"jelly-like polymers consisting of latticed networks of amino acids"— could restore motor-function to patients with recent chronic injuries, after tests prove effective in rats... Apple v. Apple—Apple Corp., the Beatles' record label, is suing Apple Computer, alleging the computer company's sale of music violates the record company's trademark of the Apple name for music publishing...

29 March: Israel election yields 28 seats for Olmert's Kadima, which will need to form complicated center-left coalition, if Olmert's West Bank evacuation is to be carried out; Olmert appealed to Palestinians to enter peace process, saying "acknowledging reality and circumstances, we are ready to compromise, to ... evacuate, with great pain, Jews living there, to create the conditions that will enable you to fulfill your dream and live alongside us"; Hamas-led Palestinian authority protests Olmert's plan undermines Palestinian ambitions, as it annexes a further 8% of West Bank territory; Hamas PM-designate has said PA will negotiate with Quartet to reinstate terms of "Roadmap", which requires yet-to-come renunciation of violence... Italy grants asylum to Abdur Rahman, Afghan who had faced possible execution for converting to Christianity, until cleared by authorities; BBC reports at 15:58 GMT that Rahman had left Afghanistan bound for Italy... Reportedly in response to pressure from Congressional Republicans, US director of national intelligence has begun posting translated Iraqi weapons documents on web (600 of estimated 1,000,000 posted so far)... Supreme Court questions validity of special tribunals for Al Qaeda suspects, expresses concern; no ruling yet issued on Hamdan case... EPA reports 25% of Americans breathing air hazardously polluted air; according to Forbes, by "2010, in the U.S. [trucks, buses, off-road] vehicles must by Environmental Protection Agency standards produce 95 percent less pollution than they do today"; reports also show world's 10 most polluted cities are in China, while Lung Assoc. finds 52% of Americans "are at risk from ozone and particle pollutants"... Charles Taylor arrested in northern Nigeria, near Cameroon border, one day after disappearing from his villa in exile in Nigeria; currently in custody of Nigerian security forces in Borno, the fmr Liberian president will likely be sent to face war crimes charges in tribunal for Sierra Leone war... BBC to examine launch for ad-based global news website, commercial online TV viewing, to gain from estimated 3.1 billion monthly page impressions worldwide...

28 March: US Senate judiciary committee approval of immigration reform would allow undocumented workers "amnesty" to apply for US citizenship after working for 6 years in US, paying $2,000 fine; bill also protects individuals who assist undocumented workers in "good samaritan" role... Fmr Liberian pres. Taylor, wanted on war crimes charges, has "disappeared from his home", a villa in Nigeria; Nigeria has recently agreed to extradite Taylor to the war crimes tribunal for Sierra Leone... Unions across France staging general strike against "First Employment Contract" freeze transport in major cities, cause major disruptions to basic services; estimated 70% of French public opposes PM de Villepin's job law; police forces deployed extra officers across the country, expecting 200 or more rallies nationwide against the law... Israeli TV indicates centrist Kadima party of acting PM Ehud Olmert will win 29-32 seats in Knesset; Labor expected to be 2nd, nationalist Yisrael Beitenu 3rd, formerly dominant Likud a distant 4th; Kadima will have to form broad center-left coalition to gain 61 seat majority, enact Olmert's West Bank withdrawal plan... Wind energy demand booming, new pricing trends show renewable wind resource now less expensive than traditional power-generation resources... Reports from Afghanistan suggest Muslim to Christian convert, who had faced possible execution, has been released from custody... EU plans to impose caps on mobile phone roaming charges; "home rule" would require travelers in foreign EU countries would pay rates in line with the rates they pay at home, instead of grossly inflated "network-switching" rates; EU Commission also wants to scrap fees for receiving calls, arguing competition should be allowed to bring prices down to consumer-friendly levels... USA Today, CNN reporting early Tuesday, White House chief of staff, Andrew Card, to resign, will be replaced by Josh Bolten, currently budget director, according to administration source...

27 March: Ukraine elections see Yuschenko's party pushed into 3rd, with fellow "Orange Revolution" leader, now bitter rival Yulia Tymoshenko's party less than 1% behind leading pro-Russian party of Yanukovich, accused of rigging vote during which Yuschenko had been poisoned, and which stirred Orange protests; Tymoshenko, Yuschenko expected to push for "Orange coalition" to stop Putin ally coming to power... NYT reports UK memo indicates that in early 2003 Bush, Blair "acknowledged that no unconventional weapons had been found inside Iraq" and "talked about several ways to provoke a confrontation" with Saddam Hussein; at least 6 other people were present at the "private two-hour meeting in the Oval Office on Jan. 31, 2003"... Hamas forms cabinet, submits new gov't agenda to parliament for consideration, on eve of Israel elections; Hamas PM Ismail Haniyeh tells parliament he will negotiate with Quartet (UN, EU, US, Russia) to resolve conflict, "enforce peace"; reports from Israel show nationalist party Yisrael Beitenu gaining ground, possibly displacing Likud as largest nationlist bloc in Knesset... UN expressing renewed concern over safety of Palestinian refugees in Iraq, citing "reports that over 100 Palestinian families had received written death threats and many were in a state of shock and panic"... UK braces for "the biggest national strike to be staged for 30 years", as an estimated 1.5 million workers stop work to support local council workers in protest against pension reforms which will cut benefits to anyone not aged 53 or older by 31 March; burials and cremations will be postponed in some cities, as schools and libraries close, trash is left uncollected, and other basic and/or "luxury services" are halted for the day... Senate committe approves wide-ranging immigration reform, paving way for "guest-worker program" favored by Bush; Times of London reports US immigration so massive it will shape all US politics in coming years...

26 March: EU demands Belarus release detained opposition leader... Reports from Iraq indicate at least 69 Iraqis found dead in sectarian clashes; US forces clash with Al-Sadr militia in reported attempt to curb violence, at least 16 killed... Hamdan terror detention case urges Supreme Court to reject the "unprecedented arrogation of power" inherent in Pres. Bush's claim to expanded presidential powers in "war on terror"; Bush admin. urges court not to constrain president's freedom to act "the armed conflict against al Qaeda remains ongoing"; Chief Justice Roberts has had to recuse himself because he ruled on the case at federal appeals level... Afghan officials cited as saying death penalty case against convert to Christianity dismissed for lack of evidence, prisoner to be released in coming days... Nigeria formally agrees to return exiled former dictator Charles Taylor to Liberia to face charges on crimes against humanity through the UN's special tribunal for Sierra Leone; move seen as step toward setting new standards for accountability in war crimes cases...

25 March: Sectarian violence in Iraq reportedly includes attempted ethnic cleansing of Palestinians; a protected refugee community under Hussein, now targeted by "death squads" linked to Shi'a radicals, reports NYT... Belarus intensifies crackdown against opposition supporters; reports emerge of detained opposition supporters "being beaten, denied the use of toilets, forced to stand for hours outside in subfreezing temperatures and then packed by nearly the score into small prison cells"; opposition leader Milinkevich says of Lukashenko regime "They do not consider us to be people"; police launched gas, sound grenades, Milinkevich press secretary also forcibly detained; "number two" in opposition, Aleksandr Kozulin, was reportedly beaten, taken into custody; reports include arrest of journalist for using "improper language" when confronted by police... Thousands of demonstrators fill streets in cities across US to protest proposed legislation targeting undocumented immigrants... US Election Commission rules designed to exempt online political activities from campaign finance laws and constraints... US Dept, of Justice tells Congress NSA can tap attorney-client communications, use evidence in court, though claim to legality relies on not recognizing unconstrained language of 4th Amendment ban on searches without warrants, and warrants without "probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation"... Chile has refused an offer by the OAS to mediate a resolution to Bolivia's claim to coastal territory in northern Chile... IHT reports violence during recent Paris demonstrations spurred by "an unlikely mix of angry youths from the Paris outskirts, far-left anarchists, far-right extremists and football hooligans", while hundreds of thousands of students massed peacefully in opposition to de Villepin's job law... Press uncovers VP Cheney's travel requirements list, ordering "All Televisions tuned to FOX News"; material posted online confirmed authentic by VP's office...

24 March: Afghan supreme court says it will not be influenced by outside pressure to reverse death sentence against man convicted of converting to Christianity, which under a harsh reading of Islamic law, one of the "sources" for Afghanistan's new constitution, can be a capital offense; pressure may be exerted on foreign gov'ts to withdraw troops that support Pres. Karzai's vulnerable gov't if sentence is carried out; Afghanistan says it will abide by international agreements, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which requires freedom of religion be respected... Spain now in first day of "permanent ceasefire" declared by Basque separatist group ETA; reports show individuals expressing elation, joy, hope for future; EU foreign ministers greet event as "hopefull the end of the last terrorist group in Europe"... HRW says South Africa AIDS crisis due to two factors, widespread rape (some 55,000 cases per year) with relative impunity and ignorance, spread in part by Min. of Health recommending useless "cures" like garlic, beetroot; SA has 25% adult population infected, highest number of cases in the world... CNN reports 220,000 people marched in Thursday street protests against French employment law, with violent clashes with dozens injured leading PM de Villepin to call for face-to-face talks with union leaders to amend law; union leaders say they will not negotiate unless law is "scrapped"; Sarkozy says he fears ongoing clashes could lead to new spread of rioting to suburbs where arson, looting was sparked last November among racial minorities... Thai opposition refuses to participate in early elections called by pres., holding rally to alert int'l community to "fraud" of election process, say pres. has "destroyed all means" of holding him accountable through court system, is using manipulated election to exonerate himself from alleged crimes... 74 million Americans using broadband internet connections, 40% access web at least 4 times per day in search of information; 70% say they use the web for information, in place of other sources...

23 March: Ecuador has declared a state of emergency in 6 provinces, in the face of spreading indigenous protests... A Constitutional Commission of Spain's national Congress approved yesterday the proposed Estatut, redrawing regional autonomy for Catalunya, categorizing it as a "nation" within Spain; regional officials will call a referendum to approve the new charter... Somali warlords battle Islamist radicals in Mogadishu; BBC reports "warlords accuse the Islamists of sheltering foreign fighters and assassinating moderate Muslims"... Pakistan says 16 of its citizens were detained, then summarily executed by Afghan security forces; Afghan gov't says dead were "Taliban from Pakistan"; tens of thousands marched in the streets of Chaman, near the Afghan border, to protest the killings; Pakistan's ambassador in Kabul says the victims were "innocent Pakstani civilians"... Pres. Bush may have told Pakistan pres. Pervez Musharraf about NSA warrantless spy program in visit in NYC, in November 2001... Leader of India's ruling Congress party, Sonia Ghandi announces her resignation as a member of Parliament, after allegations her holding multiple posts conflicted with parliamentary rules... 3 Christian peace activists kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents liberated by joing coalition military operation; no captors found at scene...

22 March: News breaks, around 11:30 am GMT, Basque separatist group ETA has announced a "permanent ceasefire"; news broke across Basque internet newspaper, TV media, then almost immediately CNN International... UN organizations host World Water Day, to raise awareness about dwindling freshwater supplies, scarcity in poor regions, deaths among the most malnourished, vulnerable, contamination and trade-related crises, armed conflicts related to resource scarcity; 1 billion people worldwide have no safe drinking water, a situation that kills an estimated 6,000 children per day... Opposition leader Milinkevich calls for Belarus pres. Lukashenko to be barred from new elections supporters demand, saying Lukashenko manipulated vote to amend constitution to allow run for 3rd term... US military jury finds soldier dog-handler guilty on 6 of 13 counts of misusing dogs to intimidate, abuse prisoners, allegedly "for personal amusement" at Abu Ghraib prison; family begs for mercy in sentencing, convicted dog-handler says he wishes he'd demanded the abusive order be put in writing before following instructions; 9 other soldiers have so far been convicted of crimes related to prisoner abuse at the facility... US military officials have opened investigation into Iraqi police allegations US soldiers shot and killed family of 11 in their home... French legislature's lower house passes bill requiring Apple to reveal digital rights management technology to prevent it stifling competition... UK, Holand, Italy drawing up complaint against "economic nationalism" within the EU, with apparent reference to France, Spain... Documents reviewed by Washington Post show Bush "administration has funneled at least $157 million in grants to organizations run by political and ideological allies"... On issue of troop withdrawal from Iraq, Bush says matter "will be decided by future presidents and future governments of Iraq"... Gordon Brown announces UK will impose new vehicle excise duty regime, reducing to zero tax on lowest-emissions vehicles, fund "micro-generation" technology for 25,000 homes, businesses, during budget proposal; Tory leader Cameron called him a "fossil fuel chancellor", said gov't is "up to their necks in debt"; LibDem leader Campbell chided him for "levels of inequality worse than under Mrs. Thatcher"...

21 March: CNN reports Taliban control Waziristan, enforcing rule through extreme violence, "emerging war" there as Pakistan tries to "wrest control from the Taliban"; report also says no outsiders have ever controlled Waziristan, a stronghold of fiercely independent tribal stronghold; Pakistan retorts area "depends on Pakistan for everything", though tribal leaders have been "left alone to run their own affairs", says Taliban does nothing there but "carry out brutal acts"... A coalition of French labor unions and protesting students has said it will stage a nationwide general strike on 28 March to demand the withdrawal of the new "First Emploment Contract" law which makes it possible for new employees to be fired virtually without cause or protection, during a 2-year probationary period... Belarus opposition leader Milinkevich calls for international pressure on Lukashenko, as thousands gather in October Square to protest election handling; Belarus authorities have detained over 100 opposition supporters for demonstrating against questionable election process; several hundred opposition supporters stayed throughout the night, hoping to stage further demonstrations Tuesday morning... Freelance photographer tells CNN Iraq is far more dangerous now for journalists, drastically reducing number of photographers traveling there, hampering quality of visual media emerging from war-torn country... Somali refugee women in northeastern Kenya, working with UN, Nike, are developing a new hijab with less fabric, more conducive to sport, but which meets traditional requirements to show no skin beside face, hands, feet, in effort to make volleyball more competitive in their community... Swedish minister resigns after ongoing criticism for closing right-wing newspaper that printed Muhammed cartoons... Fmr US Senator Nunn urges Congress to set strict conditions on Bush's planned nuclear deal with India, to ensure non-proliferation not weakened by deal with non-signatory India...

20 March: Belarus election outcome shows 82% of votes back authoritarian incumbent Aleksandr Lukashenko; opposition leaders say the vote was rigged, EU observers find the election was unfair, and US demands new election; dozens of opposition activists have been imprisoned and the state openly threatened anyone supporting the opposition; Russian observers claim the vote was free and fair; the main opposition leader has declared "What is going on today is the seizure of power by unconstitutional means"... US Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has introduced legislation to curb carbon emissions, combat global warming, and stimulate economic growth through investment in new clean and renewable resource technologies... European election observers say Belarus vote "severely flawed"; opposition complains of widespread fraud, manipulation, official intimidation; state broadcast state-sponsored partial "exit-poll", showing landslide for incumbent while voting was still underway... Tens of thousands of anti-war campaigners filled the streets in cities across the US, to mark the 3rd anniversary of the start of the war; Bush, Cheney seek to set positive tone on Iraq conflict, Cheney stands by claim of 1 year ago that insurgency is "in its last throes", even as fmr PM Allawi, favored by US, says Iraq is already mired in civil war... Former US major general Eaton, says Rumsfeld has "shown himself incompetent strategically, operationally and tactically", adding he is "far more than anyone else, responsible for what has happened to our important mission in Iraq", then went on to call for his resignation; Iraq is mired in spreading sectarian violence, which political figures in the country and in neighboring states warn could spread throughout the region; at present an average of 50 people per day are dying in bomb attacks, gunfights and other violence in Iraq... SMH writes Iraq war is "quagmire", has "created the ideal environment in which the terrorism bacillus can fester, and then infect the whole world"... Lebanese human rights lawyer to face military tribunal for criticizing tribunals' misuse to prosecute critics of gov't...

19 March: At a rally labeled "Protect democracy, oppose annexation", Taiwan pres. Chen Shui-Bian has declared "Taiwan is an independent sovereign state, and its future should be determined by its 23 million people. Taiwanese people oppose annexation and invasion"; China views Taiwan as its territory... French students, unions protest en masse across nation; police say at least 500,000, while CGT union cites figure of 1.5 million in several cities; shopkeepers in Paris close shops, police post warnings against arson on parked cars; pressure increasing on de Villepin to take action against new "first employment contract" law (CPE); more demonstrations expected Sunday, with unions talking of general strike... US federal judge orders Google to turn over search data, including 50,000 web addresses, but refuses Justice Dept. request for individual users' search queries, citing privacy concerns; Google lawyer notes "sent a clear message about privacy"... Fmr PM says Iraq is now engaged in civil war; UK defense minister says insurgents are "failing" to push Iraq into civil war... White House admits two "Bush advance men" posed as Fox reporters while scouting Gulf Coast locations for a presidential visit; they later claimed to be Secret Service, though Secret Service denies they are employed there; White House has said the two employees "were out of bounds" and will be disciplined...

18 March: Dictatorial Belarus president threatens to "wring the necks" of opponents if they "commit any act in our country"; his crackdown against dissidents, political opponents has included violence, numerous arrests in recent weeks; US, EU warn Belarus will be treated as pariah state if vote is rigged... Demonstration against gold mine in Papua, Indonesia, turns violent; protesters bludgeon to death 3 policemen, 1 air force officer, police arrest reported 57 people, naming only 5 as suspects; ABC News reports demonstration was "most violent in a series against Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., the world's largest gold and copper mine", adding "The killing of the four underscored the hatred many Papuans feel toward Indonesian soldiers and police"... Int'l Crisis Group report says UN must add significant military peacekeeping force to weak 7,000-troop African Union presence, restore ceasefire, to save tens of thousands of lives endangered by ongoing genocide; report notes "Inside Darfur humanitarian access is at its lowest in two years, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence", warns conflict has spread to Chad, war bet. Sudan, Chad could ensue... Liberia's democratically elected president Johnson-Sirleaf formally requests surrender of ousted dictator Charles Taylor; Nigeran pres. Obasanjo had placed such request as condition for extradition... Hannity criticized for not pressing senate candidate, Katherine Harris (R-FL) about request made for contract to benefit disgraced defense contractor who made illegal contribution to campaign...

17 March: In wake of recent unrest, seizure of Sorbonne campus, French police fire teargas at demonstrators, as protests against new labor law turn violent; hundreds of thousands of students, in over 200 demonstrations around France, marched against law designed to reduce near 10% unemployment, over 20% among youths, which allows employers to fire any workers under 26 with little warning or compensation... Japanese nuclear physicists may be near achieving "transmutation" process needed to neutralize nuclear waste; technetium absorption process would actually increase radioactivity, but would reduce half-life from millions to only hundreds of years... SciDev reports "quite a few" African countries unable to send delegates to Biosafety Protocol talks in Brazil, due to lack of financial backing for delegations; some nations report depending on international donor funds for such events, not provided in this case... Wash. Post profile on Sen. Feingold motion to censure Bush for warrantless wiretaps shows Dems in disarray, cites editorials painting Dems as having low approval, weak numbers, despite recent polls showing higher support on "national security"; reminds Jan. Zogby poll showed 52% of respondents felt Congress should consider impeachment proceedings "If President Bush wiretapped American citizens without the approval of a judge", with both sides interpreting wording according to partisan preferences... HRW warns US airstrikes in Samarra pose threat to civilians, urges US to take all possible precautions to avoid civilian casualties; reports at least 11 civilians killed in airstrike against insurgents in Balad, yesterday... BBC News 24 reports claims Samarra operation was most massive air strike since 2003 are misleading: operation employed 50 helicopters, little airplane bombing or long-range missile use, perhaps not as forceful as past assaults on Fallujah; operation reportedly ongoing as of noon GMT, aimed at reducing threat of all-out civil war rooted in sectarian violence...

16 March: UN votes to form new Human Rights Council, in move to replace old committee with repressive regimes as members; US opposes Council saying it doesn't place high enough standard for membership, though US ambassador proposed making China, Russia permanent members; US says it will now support Council, provide funding to ensure its strength; Council members can be suspended for "gross and systematic" violations of human rights... Iran open to direct talks with US on internal Iraq security crisis, despite pressure on Tehran over nuclear program, Bush accusation Iran supplies parts for IEDs used by insurgents; US-Iraq ambassador "authorized" to discuss security situation with Tehran... US launches massive air-raid, with 1,500 ground-troop support, against Sunni insurgent fighters in Samarra (thought responsible for bombing al-Askari shrine that has Iraq near civil war); raid reportedly largest air assault since 2003 invasion... Size of EU population, now 450 million in 25 countries (compared with roughly 300 million in US), gives Brussels trade, environment rules more weight in Asian market... MediaMatters notes most major media outlets have painted Bush plan to place more of Iraq under Iraqi control than under US control by year's end as timetable, though no timetable for withdrawal has been set, political retaliation used against critics who called for timetables... Author Bruce Sterling, while praising innovation brought about online by web users, individuals, tells tech convention politicians are stifling invention "Our people in Washington are drinking their own bath water... They have forgotten how to build anything... it looks like the Soviet Union"...

15 March: Saeb Erakat says Israel assault on Jericho prison "major provocation"; acting PM Olmert says move shows his party is "tough on security"; Boston Globe cites incoming Palestinian PM Haniyeh saying raid "a dangerous escalation against the Palestinian leaders and freedom fighters"... 6 of 9 hostages taken in Palestinian territories as retaliation released yesterday, 3 more released this morning; yet Gaza, West Bank mount general strike to protest en masse the apparent escalation in violence, sporadic rioting reported to have ensued; PA pres. Abbas has called the assault an "illegal abduction" and "an unforgiveable crime", but urged calm and non-violence on all sides... Human Rights Watch launches human rights film festival in London, featuring films examining crimes in Latin America... HRW reports Sri Lankan Tamil "Tiger" rebels use network of intimidation, extortion, even violence, to extract sustained funding from Tamil exiles in Canada, UK, "other Western countries"... Deutsche Börse seeks to merge with Euronext, European exchange, to form a leading resource in global stock trading... Google may be forced to hand over information about tens of thousands of web sites, URLs and thousands of individual web search queries, if court upholds Justice Dept. subpoena; observers say precedent could alter legal standards for gov't monitoring of private communications, information use... Wall Street Journal poll shows 50% of US electorate wants Democrats to control Congress, just 37% supporting Republicans... Drug trial in UK suspended after several human subjects suffer near immediate multiple organ failure, severe swelling...