In the run-up to elections being held Feb. 2 in Thailand, demonstrations by thousands of supporters of the opposition party blocked major intersections and government offices in Bangkok in January. Most gatherings were peaceful, but there were some violent incidents, and the army indicated it might step in if civil unrest increased. 

Prior to the February elections in 2010, a government crackdown on “Red Shirter” protesters left about 90 of them dead.

China’s government reported that air pollution increased to unhealthy levels in over 62 cities for 15 days during December. Affected areas included Hebei Province (surrounding Beijing), the Yangtze River delta, the Pearl River delta, Nanjing, Huai’an (in Jiangsu province) and Shanghai. 

When measuring levels of particulate matter, a top reading of 500 is deemed “hazardous” and people are told to avoid all outdoor activity; in Beijing, at one point, the level peaked at around 700. The...

A political struggle between South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir and a fired deputy minister, Riek Machar, erupted into violence between their supporters in mid-December. Fighting spread from the country’s capital, Juba, to Bor and Torit, capitals of eastern states. At least 1,000 people have been killed in the fighting, and about 121,000 have fled their homes seeking safety in UN compounds and smaller villages. The two sides agreed to begin peace talks in January as the fighting continues....