The Andes
Colombia: protests rock Pacific coast
Following days of protests, Colombia's largest port city of Buenaventura exploded into violence as police opened fire on demonstrators, leaving one dead and many wounded.
Author: CounterVortex
The Andes
Colombia: high court deals blow to peace process
The FARC rebels are on "high alert" following a ruling by Colombia's Constitutional Court striking down congressional "fast track" authority for laws related to the peace process.
Mexico
Reynosa shoot-outs: death throes of Gulf Cartel?
The current flare-up in the border town of Reynosa may signal a turning point in the long war between Los Zetas and the Gulf Cartel in Mexico's violence-torn Tamaulipas state.
Greater Middle East
Abused women forcibly deported to Saudi Arabia
Two sisters abused by their family in Saudi Arabia were deported by Turkey—despite their asylum bid and fears they will be tortured or even executed by Saudi authorities.
Iran
Right-wing populist slammed in Iran
Hardliner Ebrahim Raeesi reluctantly accepted Hassan Rouhani's victory after a bitter campaign, with cultural rights for Kurds and other ethnic minorities a critical dividing line.
Syria
Syria: US targets pro-Assad forces for second time
US jets attacked a convoy of Iran-backed militia forces loyal to Syrian dictator Bashar Assad—ironically within one of the new “deconfliction zones” established by the US and Russia.
North Africa
Massacre reported in battle for Libyan airbase
Up to 130 soldiers are reported to have been summarily executed after a force loyal to Libya's Tripoli-based government took an airbase controlled by eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar.
East Asia
Guangdong: direct action gets the goods
Authorities in Qingyuan, in China’s Guangdong province, canceled a planned waste incinerator project after the city center was repeatedly shut down by angry mass protests.
Planet Watch
US signs Arctic climate declaration —with caveats
Under diplomatic pressure, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson signed the Fairbanks Declaration on Arctic climate—but with caveats about how the US will not "rush" to change policy.
North Africa
Women, Berber rights at issue in Libya constitution
Libya's Constitution Drafting Assembly is under harsh critcism from women's rights advocates, while Berber leaders have called for a boycott to press demands on language rights.
North Africa
New Qaeda franchise escalates Mali insurgency
A new Qaeda-affiliated faction, the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), is attempting to re-unify the fragmented jihadist insurgency in Mali's desert north.
South Asia
Linguistic struggle heats up in Pakistan
A proposed amendment to Pakistan's constitution, making Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto and Balochi "national languages" along with Urdu, is sparking an angry backlash from nationalists.