New Zealand-based Irish solidarity group Information on Ireland has decided, in light of the current political situation in Ireland, to scale back its activities. In a statement issued on 11 September, the group said: ``Information on Ireland and its magazine Saoirse were born out of a mass struggle around the Irish hunger strikers in 1980-'81. That situation in the north has changed substantially. Free article

Australian police indiscriminately attacked protesters in Melbourne at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Asia Pacific Economic Summit this week. The protests were the latest round in a series of international protests organised by anti-globalisation activists from trade unions, third world lobby groups and human rights organisations around the world. Thousands of protesters have converged on Melbourne after similar protests in London and Washington this year and Seattle last year. Free article