360º News: International & National briefs

NATIONAL NEWS
Canada is sending aide to Japan's earthquake victims. The relief effort includes sending approximately 25,000 thermal wool blankets from its emergency relief stockpile, reported QMI Agency. "The array of capabilities that the Government of Canada has offered to the Government of Japan includes a 17-member disaster victim identification team, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear technical expertise and equipment, Canadian Forces military assets to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts, relief stocks, and emergency medical and engineering capabilities," said Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon, reported QMI.
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An anti-police brutality rally in Montreal on March 15 turned violent. Over 300 protestors gathered to commemorate the 14th annual International Day Against Police Brutality. Members of the black bloc, an anarchist organization, began to throw rocks and other projectiles, reported QMI Agency. A storefront window was smashed, and a police officer was injured by a rock. Police arrested approximately 120 people. Three were arrested for assaulting officers. A Toronto rally of fewer than 100 protestors on the same day remained peaceful.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
In Libya, Moammar Gadhafi's loyalist forces attacked and bombed their way into the rebel held cities of Mistrata and Ajdabiya, killing and injuring many anti-Gadhafi rebels. Air strikes reportedly began on March 16 on the city of Ajdabiya. These two cities are between the capital of Libya, Tripoli and the rebel-held Benghazi. The attacks occurred while the United Nations Security Council considered imposing a nofly zone over Libya. Rebels fear that without the implementation of a no-fly zone, there will be a blood bath in Benghazi.
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American Ray Davis, 36, was pardoned in Pakistan for allegedly shooting two men on January 27 in self-defense after what he claimed was an attempted armed robbery. Under Pakistani Sharia law, relatives of a murder victim can pardon a killer, which is what the families of the two victims did after receiving $1.4 million in compensation. Davis was reportedly secretly working for the CIA at the time, though it is unclear exactly what he was doing there. With his pardon comes the end of a long diplomatic standoff between Pakistan and the United States.

— compiled by Erika Faust and Kirsten Rosenkrantz