Greater Middle East

Egypt: blogger arrested in protest crackdown

Alaa Abdul Fattah, a prominent blogger who opposed Mubarak and Morsi alike, was arrested by Egypt's military authorities on charges of organizing an unsanctioned rally.

Afghanistan

Karzai punts on US ‘security agreement’

Afghan President Hamid Karzai rejected the Loya Jirga's recommendation that he sign an agreement extending the US troop presence, citing continued civilian casualties.

The Andes

Colombia: Cauca campesino leader assassinated

Sergio Ăšlcue Perdomo, a campesino leader who brought a case to the OAS human rights body over paramilitary terror in Cauca, was killed at his home by unknown gunmen.

Inner Asia

Han-Uighur solidarity amid Xinjiang violence

As another deadly clash is reported from Xinjiang, Shanghai journalist Yang Haipeng has started donning a Uighur skullcap at security checkpoints as a gesture of solidarity. 

South Asia

Pakistan: sectarian strife mars Ashura

Celebrations of Muharram, the Shi’ite holy month highlighted by the Ashura festival, saw sectarian violence that left several dead across Pakistan.