Afghanistan

Pakistan: mobilization against drone strikes

Hundreds of Pakistanis, joined by dozens of activists from the US, launched a motorcade “march” against US drone strikes that they hope will reach the Afghan border region.

Inner Asia

Tibetan writer self-immolates in TAR

A Tibetan poet, Gudrup, died after setting himself on fire in the Tibet Autonomous Region, leaving a blog post calling for Tibetans not “lose courage” in the struggle for freedom. 

Iran

Tehran protesters: ‘Forget Syria!’

At angry protests over economic conditions in Tehran, slogans included “Allahu akbar!” (God is great, associated with the 1979 revolution) and “Leave Syria alone, instead think of us!”

Africa

Somalia: who controls Kismayo?

A string of bombings rocked Somalia’s port of Kismayo—five days after the city was taken from al-Shabaab rebels by a Kenyan-led force following a lengthy siege.

The Andes

Peru: indigenous consulta rejects mineral project

The village of Cañaris in northern Peru held a consulta rejecting a proposed open-pit copper mine—but the Canadian firm that holds the contract rejects the vote as illegitimate.

Peru: court rules for indigenous sovereignty

Peru’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of an indigenous rainforest community seeking to bar a road that illegal miners and timber cutters want to build through their territory. 

The Andes

Peru coca crop rises for sixth year: UN

A new report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime says that Peru has now achieved rough parity with Colombia in coca production, with vast new areas coming under cultivation.

Europe

General strike rocks Athens

A general strike in Athens turned violent  as a demonstration of some 50,000 outside of Parliament ended with black-clad youth throwing rocks and petrol bombs at riot police.

Europe

Police fire on Occupy Madrid

Spanish police fired rubber bullets and baton-charged "indignado" protesters holding an "Occupy Congress" action against a new round of announced austerity measures.