The number of people confirmed dead or missing as a result of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami nine days ago has now surpassed 20,000, police say. According to the Sunday report, more than 15,000 are feared dead in Miyagi Prefecture alone, Reuters said.

On March 11, a 9-magnitude earthquake, off the northeast coast of Japan's main island, unleashed a 23-foot (7-meter) tsunami and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks for hours. The March 11 quake is now considered Japan's deadliest natural disaster since the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, which killed more than 142,000 people. The fatality report comes as the quake-hit country is also battling a nuclear crisis after reports were confirmed that radioactive iodine entered the country's food chain and tap water. Japanese authorities have also halted the sale of food produced in areas close to the quake-hit Fukushima Prefecture because radiation above the national safety level has been found in spinach and milk produced in the affected areas.

Last week's quake and tsunami in Japan set off the nuclear devastation by knocking out power to cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi plant on the northeast coast. Since then four of the plant's six reactor units have witnessed fires, explosions or partial meltdowns. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Japan on Friday raised the incident level at Fukushima plant from four to five on a 1-7 scale. Japanese engineers, who are struggling to cool down overheating reactors at the power plant, have managed to connect an electricity line to one of the reactors and are working to restore power to its cooling system.

WASHINGTON – More than 100 anti-war protesters, including the man who leaked the Pentagon Papers, were arrested outside the White House in demonstrations marking the eighth anniversary of the U.S.-led war in Iraq. The protesters, some shouting anti-war slogans and singing "We Shall Not Be Moved," were arrested Saturday after ignoring orders to move away from the gates of the White House. The demonstrators cheered loudly as Daniel Ellsberg, the former military analyst who in 1971 leaked the Pentagon's secret history of the Vietnam War that was later published in major newspapers, was arrested and led away by police. In New York City, about 80 protesters gathered near the U.S. military recruiting center in Times Square, chanting "No to war" and carrying banners that read, "I am not paying for war" and "Butter not guns." Similar protests marking the start of the Iraq war also were organized Saturday in San Francisco, Chicago and other cities. In California, hundreds of people marched in downtown San Francisco. Hundreds more, including students from more than 40 high schools and community colleges, marched in Los Angeles in protest of the U.S. presence in Iraq, organizers and police said. Some used the rallies to draw attention to the new military action in Libya.

John Pilger dissects the truth and lies in the 'war on terror'. Award-winning journalist John Pilger investigates the discrepancies between American and British claims for the 'war on terror' and the facts on the ground as he finds them in Afghanistan and Washington, DC. In 2001, as the bombs began to drop, George W. Bush promised Afghanistan "the generosity of America and its allies". Now, the familiar old warlords are regaining power, religious fundamentalism is renewing its grip and military skirmishes continue routinely. In "liberated" Afghanistan, America has its military base and pipeline access, while the people have the warlords who are, says one woman, "in many ways worse than the Taliban". In Washington, Pilger conducts a series of remarkable interviews with William Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard, and leading Administration officials such as Douglas Feith, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and John Bolton, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. These people, and the other architects of the Project for the New American Century, were dismissed as 'the crazies' by the first Bush Administration in the early 90s when they first presented their ideas for pre-emptive strikes and world domination. Pilger also interviews presidential candidate General Wesley Clark, and former intelligence officers, all the while raising searching questions about the real motives for the 'war on terror'. While President Bush refers to the US attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq as two 'great victories', Pilger asks the question - victories over whom, and for what purpose? Pilger describes Afghanistan as a country "more devastated than anything I have seen since Pol Pot's Cambodia". He finds that Al-Qaida has not been defeated and that the Taliban is re-emerging. And of the "victory" in Iraq, he asks: "Is this Bush's Vietnam?"

Remaining parts of this film HERE

High turnout marks 'orderly' Egypt vote. Some irregularities, but turnout was massive, with many people excited that for the first time their votes would actually be counted. Long lines, orderly queues and a mostly calm and jubilant atmosphere marked Egypt's first nationwide vote since a popular uprising forced Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's long-time president, to step down in February, leaving the country without a constitution and under the control of an unelected military council.

Observers reported an unprecedented turnout across the country, as thousands came out on Saturday to vote "yes" or "no" on a package of controversial constitutional amendments that may set the stage for parliamentary elections within months. The results are scheduled to be released on Sunday. The country's most established political forces - Mubarak's National Democratic Party and the Muslim Brotherhood - are both pushing for approval, while most of the opposition parties and the youth movement want the amendments defeated. But even those who feared the amendments would pass, paving the way for a fast election likely dominated by the NDP and the Brotherhood, seemed happy to cast a vote that, for the first time, they believed would actually be counted.

"Happy, ecstatic, delirious, laughing, crying," Karim Beshara, who had pledged to vote against the amendments, wrote on Twitter. "This is definitely the country I was fighting for and it is totally worth it." In Cairo, voters chanting "Those times are past us!" reportedly ejected Abdel Azim Wazeer, a local governor, from a polling station after he attempted to cut in line.

And rightly so. Where are the others on the left who denounced Bush for the same crimes?

A French fighter jet has reportedly been shot down in Libya after several countries agreed on a large-scale military intervention into the North African country. Libyan state television said late on Saturday that the French warplane went down in the Njela district of the Libyan capital Tripoli, AFP reported. However, the French military swiftly denied the report. Foreign forces launched airstrikes against Libya after officials of a number countries meeting in Paris on Saturday ordered a large-scale military intervention into the country in order to end the assaults on civilians launched by Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi's forces. There have been reports that French warplanes have begun firing on Libyan government troops in the eastern city of Benghazi, which is the stronghold of anti-government forces.

Libya's parliament head, Abul Qasim al-Zuai, condemned the West's air strikes on his country as acts of "barbaric aggression" after Tripoli announced a truce in its battle against armed rebels.

"Western nations are carrying out air strikes at several locations in Tripoli and Misrata, causing massive damage to civilian and other infrastructure," he told a press conference in Tripoli. "This barbaric aggression against the Libyan people comes after we announced a ceasefire," Zuai said. "The pretext that this aggression is designed to protect civilians is contradicted by what has happened on the ground tonight," he said. "A large number of civilians wounded by this aggression have filled up hospitals, and ambulances are still trying to reach them," said the Libyan official, without giving numbers.

BusinessInsider: Polls Show Strong Opposition to US Intervention In Libya
Reuters: Venezuela's Chavez Denounces Military Action in Libya
BBC: Libya attacked from air and sea
PressTV: Spain, Norway, Denmark join war party
Al Jazeera War Propaganda: International forces bombard targets in Libya - Video

What's the difference between Libya and Yemen or Bahrain? All three states have been using violence to crush pro-democracy protests. But only against Libya are the US and its Western allies planning a military response. Yemen and Bahrain's crackdowns have so far been met only with words, not action. On one level the answer is obvious. Bahrain and Yemen are US allies - especially Bahrain with its large US naval base. Libya is not. The US response to Bahrain is further complicated by neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Washington's number one Arab ally.

Minnesota is leading the way. Our Republican thugs s have figured out how to end poverty: by making it illegal to have money if you're poor? Wait, that makes no sense. Minnesota Republicans are pushing legislation that would make it a crime for people on public assistance to have more $20 in cash in their pockets any given month. Lest you think our most contemptible lawmakers have no heart at all, consider that this is the generous version of their earlier plan. This represents a change from their initial proposal, which banned them from having any money at all.

The U.S. ambassador to Mexico resigned Saturday amid furor over a leaked diplomatic cable in which he complained about inefficiency and infighting among Mexican security forces in the campaign against drug cartels. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, in Paris to meet with U.S. allies on Libya, said Carlos Pascual's decision to step down was "based upon his personal desire to ensure the strong relationship between our two countries and to avert issues" raised by President Felipe Calderon. Clinton didn't say specifically what she was referring to, but a furious Calderon has publicly criticized Pascual's cable, which was divulged by the WikiLeaks website.