Greater Middle East

Amnesty: human rights ‘catastrophe’ in Yemen

A report by Amnesty International documents a "raft of gross and deeply disturbing abuses" committed by both Islamist rebels and government forces in the battle for southern Yemen.

Greater Middle East

Egypt: high court suspends work in face of protests

Egypt’s Supreme Court indefinitely halted its operations amid pressure from protestors aiming to block the judges from ruling on the validity of the country’s new constitution.

Afghanistan

Pakistan to Lebanon: Shi’ites under attack

Bomb attacks on Shi’ite processions marking Ashura claimed lives in Pakistan, while Sunnis and Shi’ites clashed in Kabul and a planned attack on Shi’ites was thwarted  in Lebanon.

North Africa

Mali: Europe prepares intervention

Military experts from Africa, the United Nations and Europe have drafted plans to retake control of northern Mali, as West African nations prepare a request for armed intervention.

Iraq

Iraq exports Islamist militants to Syria?

Arabic-language news services report that 15 accused al-Qaeda members who recently escaped from a prison in Tikrit, Iraq, are now leading insurgent groups in Syria. 

Southeast Asia

Mindanao: fighting despite new autonomy deal

New fighting was reported from the southern Philippines island group of Mindanao, despite a recent deal on regional autonomy aimed at ending the decades-long insurgency. 

Europe

France: Muslims under attack… and Jews

A right-wing "Identity Group" seized a mosque in Poitiers, issuing a "declaration of war" against the "Islamization" of France—weeks after a bomb attack on a kosher shop in Paris. 

Afghanistan

Give the Nobel Peace Prize to Malala Yousafzai!

The European Union is singularly undeserving of the Nobel Peace Prize. A global call must be raised for this year’s prize to be transferred to the truly heroic Malala Yousafzai.