East Asia

North Korea joins ICBM club —but why now?

North Korea's launch of an "exo-atmospheric" rocket follows South Korean plans to develop ballistic missiles capable of hitting all of the North's territory, with US oversight.

Greater Middle East

UAE arrests 18-year-old blogger: report

The Emirates Centre for Human Rights reports that the United Arab Emirates has arrested an 18-year-old blogger as part of a wider effort to crack down on government opposition. 

Greater Middle East

Syria: endgame or wider war?

With pitched fighting in Damascus, the Internet is down across Syria. Russia meanwhile protests NATO plans to place missiles along Syria's border in Turkey.

Watching the Shadows

ACLU urges Obama to close Gitmo in second term

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called on US President Barack Obama early on the morning after his re-election to shut down the Guantánamo Bay military prison.

East Asia

China: did new Foxconn strike happen?

Reports of new wildcat strikes involving 4,000 workers at a Foxconn plant in Henan province are denied by the company—and harsh control of information bars corroboration.

Afghanistan

Pakistan: Taliban shoot 14-year-old blogger

Young blogger and rights activist Malala Yousafzai is fighting for her life in a Peshawar hospital after she was attacked on her school bus by Taliban militants.
Central Asia

Tibetan writer self-immolates in TAR

A Tibetan poet, Gudrup, died after setting himself on fire in the Tibet Autonomous Region, leaving a blog post calling for Tibetans not “lose courage” in the struggle for freedom. 

Greater Middle East

Oman blogger imprisoned, fined for slander

Omani blogger Mukhtar bin Mohammed bin Saif al-Hinai was sentenced to one year of imprisonment on charges of slander and violating the country's information technology laws.