Rebel supporters in Aleppo created their own no-fly zone by burning tires

Syrian government forces have encircled Aleppo, once Syria's most populous city, and with Russian backing, are bombarding it with attack planes and helicopters. Capturing the city would be the biggest victory for President Bashar al-Assad in what has already been half a decade of war. The current siege, targeting rebel-held areas in the city's east, has been met with […]

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2016/08/01/rebel-supporters-in-aleppo-created-their-own-no-fly-zone-by-burning-tires/

Rio’s long-delayed Olympic metro line opens in the nick of time

RIO DE JANEIRO — To the relief of organizers, the government and the tens of thousands either working on the Games or planning to watch them, Rio finally began operating its new Olympic metro line at 6:07 a.m. on Monday. It came in the nick of time, just days before the Olympics opening ceremony on Friday. After security […]

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2016/08/01/rios-long-delayed-olympic-metro-line-opens-in-the-nick-of-time/

Jailed Chinese lawyer reappears to deliver ‘confession.’ But the script seems familiar.

  In another time, or another place, Wang Yu's reappearance would have been good news. Wang, who is one of China's most respected human rights lawyers, was detained more than a year ago as part of a sweeping crackdown on the legal community. For more than a year, she's been kept from her son. For more than […]

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2016/08/01/jailed-chinese-lawyer-reappears-to-deliver-confession-but-the-script-seems-familiar/

Sometimes it takes an outsider to crystallize America’s enduring racism

A U.N. official just spent 17 days traveling across the United States, and what a 17 days it was. As we're accustomed to U.N. officials doing in other countries, Maina Kiai visited the United States' most restive places, seeking insight on the conditions that prevent peace. From the grief-stricken cities of Baton Rouge and Ferguson, Mo., roiled […]

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2016/08/01/sometimes-it-takes-an-outsider-to-crystallize-americas-enduring-racism/

Where Europe is most and where it is least innovative, in one map

DRESDEN, Germany — Europe has long secretly admired Silicon Valley. So, when a local European politician wants to emphasize how innovative his region really is, it is common to somehow relate it to the Valley. One example is "Silicon Saxony" in eastern Germany with the regional capital Dresden. It's far from being the only European region dreaming […]

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2016/08/01/where-europe-is-most-and-where-it-is-least-innovative-in-one-map/