East Asia

China: victory for anti-pollution protesters

The mayor of Xiantao in central China announced suspension of a waste incinerator after a wave of protests—but residents continue to take the streets in defiance of authorities.

Greater Middle East

Egypt: journalists’ union head on trial

An Egyptian court began the trial of journalists' union leader Yahya Qalash and two board members who were charged with spreading "false news" and harboring wanted reporters.

Greater Middle East

Saudi Arabia: five years for tweeting

Amnesty International protested the conviction of journalist Alaa Brinji by a Saudi court on charges of "insulting authority" for tweeting in support of women's rights.

The Caribbean

Is Obama really helping Cuban dissidents?

Obama's embrace of Cuban dissidents allows the Castro regime to to more easily paint any push for greater democracy on the island as part of an imperial agenda.

Greater Middle East

Erdogan exploits terror wave —of course

Erdogan cynically blames the mounting terror attacks in Turkey on Kurdish miitants—as Europe grooms his consolidating dictatorship as a buffer state to keep  refugees at bay.

The Andes

Bogotá: taxistas revolt against Uber

Hundreds of taxi drivers from across Colombia converged on Bogotá, clogging the streets and blocking intersections to demand the government ban Uber.

Greater Middle East

Kuwait upholds four-year term for tweeting

Kuwait's Supreme Court upheld the four-year prison sentence against an activist found guilty of insulting judges on Twitter—the latest in a string of such convictions for illegal tweeting.

Greater Middle East

Turkey releases journalists charged with espionage

A Turkish court released two journalists who were arrested last year after reporting that the Ankara government was running a smuggling operation to arm Islamist factions in Syria.