Iraq
Wonks see ‘failed states’ in Iraq, Syria
Ex-CIA director James Woolsey charged that the Obama administration has no strategy for dealing with "failed states" in Iraq and Syria.
Tag: autonomy
The Amazon
Brazil: ‘zero deforestation’ push
Greenpeace sent 1.4 million signatures to Brazil's congress demanding a "zero deforestation" law—while cattle and timber barons push a bill to further open indigenous lands.
Iran
Ahwazi Arabs charge Iran with ‘ethnocide’
The Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz, seeking autonomy for Iran's Arab minority, met in Copenhagen, drawing support from Syrian rebel leaders.
Europe
Spain strikes down Catalan independence plan
The Constitutional Court of Spain declared unconstitutional a resolution by the Parliament of Catalonia that puts forth a plan for the region's independence by 2017.
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.
North Africa
Berbers symbolically raise Kabylia flag at UN
Some 500 Berber activists from Algeria's Kabylia region gathered at the UN headquarters to symbolically raise the flag of their homeland.
Greater Middle East
Syria: anti-ISIS forces advance —despite everything
The new Kurdish-Arab alliance in northern Syria continues to advance into ISIS-held territory—in spite of efforts by virtually all the regional powers to sabotage it.
Southeast Asia
Burma: will ceasefire wind down opium war?
Burma’s regime signs a "national ceasefire" with ethnic rebels in the opium-producing north ahead of historic elections—but the biggest rebel armies didn’t sign on.
Greater Middle East
New Syrian rebel coalition unites Kurds, Arabs
A new coalition of 13 armed organizations announced the formation of the Democratic Forces of Syria, which is now planning a major offensive against ISIS.
The Andes
Ecuador: victory for Kichwa sovereignty
Ecuadoran border authorities allowed an indigenous leader to enter the country on a passport issued by the Kichwa Nation, hailed as an "historic precedent" for the hemisphere.
The Andes
Colombia: U’wa Nation land rights case advances
The U'wa Nation claimed a victory as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights agreed to hear its land rights case against the Colombian government.
Africa
South Sudan: oil wealth as threat to peace plan
South Sudan's opposition charges that a plan by President Salva Kiir to redraw the country's internal borders aims at keeping oil wealth in the hands of his Dinka followers.