Greater Middle East
US sells Turkey ‘smart bombs’ (to use against Kurds)
The Pentagon announces the sale of 900 "smart bombs" to Turkey just as Ankara is preparing to move against US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria.
Tag: politics of cyberspace
Africa
Ethiopia: ‘Zone 9’ bloggers acquitted
Five Ethiopian bloggers were acquitted of "terrorism" charges related to writings on their Zone9 website—but one remains detained for "inciting violence."
Greater Middle East
AKP-ISIS collaboration in Ankara massacre?
Several PKK sympathizers have been arrested in connection with the Ankara suicide blasts—but the Turkish left charges that the ruling AKP collaborated with ISIS in the attack.
Greater Middle East
Tatar militants pledge to Syria’s Nusra Front?
In a claim convenient to Russian war propaganda, a group of Tatars calling themselves the Crimean Jamaat reportedly pledged loyalty to Nusra Front, al-Qaeda's Syrian franchise.
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.
The Andes
Ecuador: gov retreats on closure of press watchdog
Ecuador's government dropped moves to shut the country's press watchdog after revelations that public funds were used to purge the Internet of critical material.
Greater Middle East
Turkey: Kurdish left resists ‘political genocide’
With much of Turkey's east under a state of emergency and pro-government mobs sacking offices of the left-opposition HDP, Kurdish leaders charge a campaign of "political genocide."
North Africa
ISIS complains about jihadist rivals in Libya
The latest edition of the English-language ISIS magazine Dabiq includes a tirade against Qaeda-aligned forces in Libya, amid an internecine war of jihadist factions.
The Andes
Ecuador shuts down free-speech organization
Ecuador's Secretary of Communications officially informed free-speech advocacy organization Fundamedios that it is being dissoved for promoting "indisputably political" material.
Greater Middle East
Syrian rebels pledge to defeat Russian ‘occupation’
Amid signs of an escalating Russian intervention in Syria, the opposition government-in-exile issued a statement pledging to "defeat any foreign occupation."
East Asia
Tiananmen spectacle, historical revisionism
The massive spectacle in Beijing commemorating China's victory in the Sino-Japanese War was preceded by arrests of activists pushing a dissident version of the conflict's history.
Iraq
Outrage in Turkey over atrocities against Kurds
Military atrocities against Kurds in Turkey's east are sparking protests across the country and the Kurdish diaspora—and a wave defections from village paramilitary forces.