East Asia

Tiananmen spectacle, historical revisionism

The massive spectacle in Beijing commemorating China's victory in the Sino-Japanese War was preceded by arrests of activists pushing a dissident version of the conflict's history.

Southern Cone

Argentina: Mapuche blockade oil fields —again

Indigenous Mapuche residents blocked access to oil and gas wells to press demands over territorial rights, nearly shutting down production in Argentina's Neuquén province.

Europe

Hungary to Syrian refugees: Stay out!

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, building a wall along the Serbian border and herding migrants into detainment camps, warned Syrian refugees to stay in Turkey.

Iraq

Iraq: Kakai militia prepares to fight ISIS

The Kakai religious minority, targeted for extermination by ISIS, has formed a battalion to defend their villages on the frontline in northern Iraq—and are desperately in need of guns.

Iraq

Russia launches Syria intervention

Russian fighter pilots are arriving in Syria, to begin sorties against ISIS and rebel forces—amid reports that Moscow's elite units are already fighting on the ground for the regime.

Palestine

Israeli forces clash with Palestinian Christians

Palestinians at the Christian town of Beit Jala clashed with Israeli forces following Sunday mass when residents, including priests, marched to protest work on the  "separation wall."  

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.