Oceania

Rival trade pacts vie for Pacific hegemony

China is proposing a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP) in  a race with the US-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) for hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Andes

May Day mining disaster in Colombia

An unknown number of miners—perhaps as many as 40—were buried alive as an illegal gold mine collapsed at El Palmar, in Colombia's southern region of Cauca.

Iran

Iran: May Day marchers defy authorities

Workers in several Iranian industrial centers marched on May Day in defiance of official attempts to shut them down, protesting labor repression and non-payment of wages.

Southern Cone

Brazil: riot rocks Rio favela

Military Police occupied the favela, or shantytown of Caramujo outside Río de Janeiro following riots sparked by the death of two local youths in incidents with the security forces.

Europe

Novorossiya resurgent?

With the open encouragement of Putin, separatists in eastern Ukraine are reviving the concept of "Novorossiya" (New Russia)—a dangerous precedent for revanchist claims.

Greater Middle East

Turkey: May Day marchers defy protest ban

Clashes rocked central Istanbul as Turkish protesters attempted to defy a government ban on May Day rallies at the city's iconic Taksim Square.

syrianyc2

NYC for Syria

A contingent in support of the Syrian Revolution marched in the May Day parade in New York City on May 1. Photo: Bruno Giuliani See the Free Syria Contingent statement…  

Greater Middle East

Chemical watchdog to investigate Syria attacks

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) announced that it will begin a fact-finding mission into allegations of the use of chlorine gas in Syria.