Sharon Hom

Riot police stand guard a checkpoint near the courthouse where ethnic Uighur academic Ilham Tohti's trial took place in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region in mid-September.

China’s harsh punishment for a moderate Uighur could make things worse in Xinjiang

Justice

Even cynics were surprised when a court in China handed moderate Uighur independence advocate Ilham Tohti a life sentence and severe economic penalties on Tuesday. Now observers think the harsh ruling may further stoke tensions and violence in China’s Xinjiang province.

Google and GoDaddy go to Washington

Environment