South Asia

India: Naga rebels divided over peace deal

Rival factions of India's longest running ethnic insurgency are divided on whether to accept a peace deal with the government—as Delhi turns up military heat on the hold-outs.

The Andes

Ecuador shuts down free-speech organization

Ecuador's Secretary of Communications officially informed free-speech advocacy organization Fundamedios that it is being dissoved for promoting "indisputably political" material.

The Amazon

Brazil: Guarani leader slain by gunmen

A Guarani-Kaiowa indigenous leader was shot dead in Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state, one week after his community occupied part of their ancestral lands usurped by ranchers.

Palestine

Palestine and Vatican in UN flag fracas

Two months after formally recognizing Palestine, the Vatican objected to a Palestinian request for the two observer states to be allowed to raise their flags at UN headquarters.

Iran

Iran regime executes Kurdish activist

In a move protested by rights groups, Iran's regime hanged Kurdish political prisoner Behrouz Alkhani—despite a pending appeal of his death sentence before the country's high court.

Iraq

ISIS named in new Syria chemical attack

Aid workers in Aleppo governorate report treating patients for symptoms of a mustard-gas attack in a rebel-held town that had come under mortar fire by ISIS.

The Amazon

Bolivia: police attack indigenous roadblocks

Bolivian National Police used batons and tear-gas to break up a road blockade launched by Guaraní indigenous residents to protest gas exploitation on their traditional lands.