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.
Tag: autonomy
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.
Planet Watch
Retreat on Arctic drilling —push to open ANWR
The Interior Department announced the cancellation of two pending Arctic offshore lease sales—as Alaska's governor makes a new push to open the ANWR to oil companies.
East Asia
Okinawa: anti-base protesters score win —for now
Protestors in front of Camp Schwab in Okinawa burst into cheers as the island's governor revoked the permit for a new US Marine base—but Tokyo may override the decision.
The Amazon
Bolivia: Guaraní denounce ‘parallelism’ strategy
Guaraní leaders at Itika Guasu say Bolivia's government has used rivalries over oil revenues to instrument a split and impose a new "parallel" leadership over the community.
Greater Middle East
Syrian Kurds as pawns in Turko-Russian game?
With tensions high between Turkey and Russia, Moscow's intervention risks drawing the Kurds into the geopolitical game and escalating divisions within the Syrian resistance.
Southeast Asia
Philippines: mining link seen to paramilitary terror
Clergy and rights advocates in Mindanao see army-supported paramilitary groups behind a wave of killings of indigenous leaders opposed to gold-mining operations on traditional lands.
Europe
Crimean Tartars in alliance with Ukrainian fascists?
Crimean Tartars, blockading the Ukrainian border in protest of Russia's annexation of their homeland, are said to be collaborating with Ukraine's neo-fascist Right Sector.
South Asia
Nepal: protests in response to new constitution
Enactment of Nepal's new constitution sparked angry protests in the southern plains, where the traditionally excluded Madhesi people are demanding greater autonomy.
South Asia
India: Naga rebels divided over peace deal
Rival factions of India's longest running ethnic insurgency are divided on whether to accept a peace deal with the government—as Delhi turns up military heat on the hold-outs.