Afghanistan
US general in Afghanistan calls for more troops
The US commander in Afghanistan told lawmakers he needs several thousand more troops to break "a stalemate" with the Taliban and other insurgents.
Author: CounterVortex
North Africa
More mysterious air-strikes in Libya
The latest in an ongoing wave of unclaimed air-strikes in Libya hit al-Jufra air base in the interior of the country, which is in the hands of local militia forces.
Southern Cone
Bolivia protests Argentina’s immigration decree
Argentina's new restrictive immigration policy is drawing protests from neighboring Bolivia—and accusations that President Mauricio Macri is emulating Donald Trump.
The Andes
Peru denied legal costs in FTA pollution case
An arbitration body ruled for Peru in a case brought by a US mineral interest under terms of the Free Trade Agreement, but is denying Lima recovery of legal costs.
The Amazon
Peru: Amazon highway at issue in Toledo scandal
The Inter-Oceanic Highway, long a focus of protest in Peru's Amazon, is at issue in the corruption scandal implicating ex-president Alejandro Toledo.
Syria
Syria: 13,000 secretly hanged at military prison
An Amnesty International report exposes the “cold-blooded killing of thousands of defenseless prisoners” in a Syrian regime detention center.
The global land-grab
A local resident in Gambela, Ethiopia, looks on as former peasant lands are enclosed by a corporate interest—one of several such instances around the world. In New York City, Brooklyn's Maple Street Community Garden is battling in the courts for its… Read moreThe global land-grab
The Caribbean
Haiti: ex-coup leader busted for coke trafficking
Guy Philippe, a former paramilitary boss and coup leader recently elected to Haiti’s senate, was arrested by the DEA days before he would have been sworn into office. (Map: Perry-Castañeda Map Library)
Iran
Iran bank drops dollar amid new sanctions
The Central Bank of Iran formally dropped its use of the US dollar as Trump slapped new sanctions on the Islamic Republic in response to its latest missile test.
Afghanistan
Afghan government losing territory to insurgency
The Afghan government controls less than 60% of the country's territory, with security forces retreating from many areas last year, a US oversight agency reports.
North Africa
Morocco joins AU; Sahrawi Republic betrayed?
As Morocco is readmitted to the African Union, it is pushing for the suspension of Morocco-occupied Western Sahara, placing the AU in a difficult position.
Greater Middle East
Yemen: child killed in Trump’s first commando raid
President Trump's first commando raid left dead the US-born 8-year-old daughter of Anwar al-Awlaki, the late leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.