The Caucasus

Chechnya war comes to Boston —or not?

Voices on the left seek to play down jihadist involvement in the Chechen struggle, while the neocon right plays it up—ironically in line with Moscow's propaganda.

North America

Chechen rebels see anomalies in Boston attack

The Kavkaz Center, voice of the Chechen mujahedeen, issued a statement suggesting that the suspects in the Boston attacks were framed in a plot to discredit their struggle.

East Asia

Fukushima: the cover-up continues

As a lawsuit over the government’s failure to evacuate Fukushima prefecture’s children is on appeal, Japan’s government attempts to downplay reports of elevated thyroid abnormalities.

East Asia

Meanwhile: Seoul-Tokyo tensions mount…

The crisis between North and South Korea has overshadowed growing tensions between both Koreas and Japan, which has seen an ugly wave of anti-Korean protests.

Iraq

Syria: Nusra Front merge with Iraq Qaeda wing

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, “emir” of al-Qaeda in Iraq, announced a merger with Syria’s Nusra Front to form a new organization, the “Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham.”

North Africa

Whither the ‘Topless Jihad’?

Rival online campaigns are waged by the "Topless Jihad" and Muslim Women Against Femen. Is the Topless Jihad a defense of women's freedom, or imperialist propaganda?

Greater Middle East

Syria: Alawite dissidents break with regime

Opposition activists from Syrian President Bashar Assad's Alawite sect publicly broke ranks with the regime at a meeting in Cairo, and urged their fellow Alawites in the army to rebel.

Palestine

Jews act like Romans in Holy Land

With Israel’s harsh restrictions on freedom of movement, Palestinian Christians’ attempt at a Good Friday procession in Jerusalem is converted into a protest for rights and dignity. 

Leak at tar sands plant fouls Athabasca River

Tainted water poured for hours into Canada's Athabasca River before a broken pipe was sealed at one of the Suncor tar-sands plants that it is to supply the Keystone XL pipeline.