Greater Middle East
Syria: civil wars in the civil war
A growing split between secular and Islamist elements of the FSA is unfortunately mirrored by a breach between Kurds and Ankara-backed Arab and Turkmen forces.
Europe
Paris: police suppress climate protests
Police in Paris used tear-gas and batons to break up protesters who attempted to gather ahead of the UN climate summit in defiance of a state of emergency.
Mexico
SCOTUS turns down Mexican appeal in BP oil spill
The US Supreme Court denied certiorari in an appeal by Mexican states attempting to sue BP over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
The Andes
UN urges protection for Venezuela opposition
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for the protection of the political opposition in Venezuela after the assassination of politician Luis Diaz.
Southern Cone
Brazil to sue mining giants for dam failure
Brazil's Environment Minster announced plans to sue BHP Billiton Ltd and partners for $5.24 billion in damages caused by a dam collapse at an iron ore site that wiped out a village.
Palestine
Google to suppress footage of Israeli war crimes?
Israeli cabinet member Tzipi Hotovely met with representatives of YouTube and Google to discuss cooperation in what she called the fight against "inciting violence and terrorism."
Greater Middle East
Kurdish lawyer shot dead at press conference
Tahir Elci, a prominent Kurdish human rights lawyer, was gunned down by unknown assailants while delivering a press statement in Diyarbakir, Turkey.
East Asia
Taiwan: indigenous demand land restitution
Taiwan's Aboriginal peoples have launched a new push for restitution of usurped lands and recognition of local autonomy for indigenous communities.
East Asia
China releases journalist over declining health
A Beijing court released ailing journalist Gao Yu on medical parole, while upholding her conviction for leaking an internal Communist Party document.
Southeast Asia
Thai constitution would grant military immunity
Human Rights Watch warns that a provision in Thailand's new constitution would permit the military to commit human rights abuses without fear of punishment.
Afghanistan
Pentagon: human error caused hospital bombing
A Pentagon investigation finds that the bombing of a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Afghanistan was an "avoidable accident caused primarily by human error."
Kabylia flag raised at United Nations
A crowd of some 500 Berber (Amazigh) acitivsts from Algeria's Kabylia region and the diaspora gathered at the UN on Oct. 11, to symbolically raise the flag of their homeland. The action was led by Ferhat Mehenni, president of the… Read moreKabylia flag raised at United Nations