Afghanistan
Pakistan: Who was behind Lahore blast?
A building of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Lahore was targeted in a suicide blast, killing 13—but officials say it was beyond the Taliban’s capability.
Central Asia
GGR
With China accused of detaining hundreds of thousands of Uighur Muslims without trial in its western province of Xinjiang, a BBC investigation analyzed satellite data to determine that the detention camp system in the region is rapidly expanding. Reviewing images from the European Space Agency's Sentinel satellite service, the BBC finds at least 40 such facilities across Xinjiang, half built within last two years—with a big thrust of construction just in the past six months. Among the largest is a "massive, highly secure compound" still being built at Dabancheng, about an hour's drive from the provincial capital, Urumqi. It is enclosed within a two kilometer-long exterior wall punctuated by 16 guard towers. (Photo via UNPO)
Afghanistan
Sectarian war rocks north Afghanistan
Fierce clashes left some 50 fighters dead in northeast Afghanistan’s Baghlan province, pitting Taliban forces against their erstwhile allies in Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s Hezb-e-Islami.
Iraq
Sectarian terror rocks Baghdad, Najaf —again
The death toll from bomb attacks in Baghdad reached 37 as Iraqis voted in the country’s parliamentary election, while a car bomb again targeted Shi’ite pilgrims in Najaf.
Africa
Riots rock West Africa
Angry protests over an electoral dispute in Togo, with police using tear gas against opposition supporters, follow similar scenes two weeks earlier in Ivory Coast.
Europe
Riots rock Athens —again
Striking Greek workers shut down transport and tried to storm the parliament building in Athens as lawmakers passed 4.8 billion euros ($6.5 billion) in budget cuts.
Palestine
Riots rock Jerusalem —again
Ultra-orthodox Jews rioted in Jerusalem two days after dozens of Palestinians were injured as Israeli forces again stormed the Old City’s al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Iran
Ahmadinejad joins 9-11 conspiranoids
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad weighs in for 9-11 conspiranoia in the most vulgar terms. Will he be the next hero for the “Truthies”?
Mexico
Mexico: police stage protest after deadly ambush outside Monterrey
Municipal police in a suburb of Mexico’s northern industrial hub of Monterrey staged protests outside their precinct stations after three were killed in an ambush.
Central America
Clinton presses leaders to recognize Honduras at drug war summit
In Guatemala for a Drug War summit, Hillary Clinton called for recognition of the new Honduran government—and was accused by Hugo Chávez of “planting seeds of discord.”
North America
“Patriot” groups, militias surge: report
The number of militias and other extremist groups in the US exploded in 2009, according to a report issued this week by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
North America
Pentagon attacker was 9-11 conspiranoid
The man who shot two police officers at the Pentagon was apparently a devoted follower of the 9-11 “Truth” movement—who had proposed that the Pentagon fund his “research.”