Greater Middle East
Turkey: investigate arrests of opposition leaders
The People's Democratic Party of Turkey called on the European Court of Human Rights to investigate the unlawful imprisonment of the party's co-chairs.
Tag: police state
East Asia
China targeting human rights defenders
A new report finds that human rights defenders in China are being criminalized as "national security" threats, and increasingly face detention and torture.
Southeast Asia
Philippines: Duterte blinks in deadly drug war?
The Philippines' ultra-hardline President Rodrigo Duterte pledged to dismantle his deadly anti-drug units after police kidnapped and killed a South Korean executive.
Southeast Asia
Philippines strongman threatens martial law
The Philippines' ultra-hardline President Rodrigo Duterte now threatens to actually impose martial law across the country if the drug problem becomes "very virulent."
North America
Court issues stay on Trump immigration order
A Brooklyn federal judge blocked Trump's order barring immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, as activists occupied JFK and several other US airports.
North America
Human Rights Watch: Trump portends ‘tyranny’
In its yearly report, Human Rights Watch warns that the rise of populist leaders "poses a dangerous threat to basic rights"—particularly naming Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Watching the Shadows
Obama’s final year: a CounterVortex scorecard
With a Trump despotism looming, CounterVortex offers its final assessment of Barack Obama's record in addressing the oppressive legacy of the Global War on Terrorism.
Southeast Asia
Duterte boasts of personally killing drug suspects
The Philippines' ultra-hardline President Rodrigo Duterte—facing international outrage for his bloody anti-drug crackdown—boasted that he has "personally" killed suspects.
Palestine
Israel: protest vigil for detained Palestinian MK
Dozens demonstrated outside an Israeli courthouse in support of a Palestinian member of the Knesset, Basal Ghattas, after the court extended his detention another day.
Europe
Poland’s victory: can it happen in US?
Poland's increasingly authoritarian government capitulated after days of angry protests and agreed to scrap a proposed law that would have imposed harsh restrictions on the media.
Greater Middle East
Turkish government silencing media: HRW
The Turkish government is silencing the media on a massive scale to prevent scrutiny or criticism the government's "ruthless crackdown," Human Rights Watch charges.
Southeast Asia
Duterte threatens to kill human rights activists
Accused of carrying out 3,000 extrajudicial executions, the Philippines' ultra-hardline President Duterte now threatens to kill human rights activists who dare to complain about it.