Sudan and South Sudan strike oil deal —but border disputes remain
South Sudan and Sudan announced a deal on the south’s access to Khartoum’s oil pipelines—but it is contingent on further talks over disputed border enclaves.
Africa
Niger Delta insurgency back on?
Gunmen attacked two ships off the coast of Nigeria's oil-rich southern delta, killing two naval troops protecting the vessels and seizing four foreign workers before fleeing.
The Andes
Peru: toxic mining spill sickens villagers, Anonymous hacks back
More than 100 local residents were sickened by a toxic spill at the giant Antamina copper mine in Peru. Anonymous hackers promptly vandalized the company website.
New York City
F**ck You, Mr. Ahmedinyahu
Protesters and dissidents in Israel and Iran alike are uniting against the threat of war between their countries. A Facebook meme satirizes the leaders of both countries under the portmanteau “Ahmedinyahu.” In May, Iranians and Israelis held a joint rally… Read moreF**ck You, Mr. Ahmedinyahu
South Asia
India’s new president: GWOT is World War 4
In his inaugural speech, India’s new president, Pranab Mukherjee, called the fight against terrorism the “fourth world war,” and portrayed his own country as a frontline state.
Innu protest Plan Nord
Innu people from the community of ManiUtenam, near the Quebec city of Sept Isle, held a 360-kilometer cross-country march on a Hydro Quebec dam construction site on the Romaine River. Quebec’s ambitious Plan Nord mega-development scheme has sparked indigenous and… Read moreInnu protest Plan Nord
Afghanistan
China launches bid to undermine trans-Afghan pipeline project
A Chinese proposal for a pipeline route across northern Afghanistan for Caspian Basin gas could sabotage the US-backed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) project.
Afghanistan
Putin: victory to NATO in Afghanistan!
Vladimir Putin called upon NATO to stay in Afghanistan until it has prevailed over the insurgency. He spoke at the inauguration of a new NATO transit hub at Ulyanovsk.
Inner Asia
Central Asia opium wars escalate
Tajikistan sealed its border with Afghanistan after clashes with armed rebels left 48 dead—a re-escalation of conflict over control of the cross-border traffic in Afghan opium.
North America
‘Anarchist literature’ sought in Portland raids
The FBI served search warrants at three homes in Portland. Ore. and issued five grand jury subpoenas in a case apparently related to May Day protests in Seattle.
Palestine
Syria: Palestinians caught between both sides
Palestinian refugees at the Yarmouk camp in Damascus have joined the Syrian uprising. But Palestinian militants backed by the regime are targeted by the rebels for assassination.
North Africa
Mali sliding into ‘human rights chaos’
Amnesty International warned after a visit to Mali July 31 that the country is slipping into “human rights chaos,” with abuses documented in the government-controlled south as well as the rebel-held north. Amnesty documented at least one incident in the… Read moreMali sliding into ‘human rights chaos’