The Andes
Colombians re-mobilize for peace
Thousands marched for peace across Colombia as President Manuel Santos was awared the Nobel prize for his accord with the FARC—despite its rejection in a plebiscite.
Author: CounterVortex
70,000 Syrian refugees stranded in ‘buffer zone’
Thousands of displaced Syrians are trapped between sand berms on the border with Jordan, denied entry—facing hostile soliders on either side, receiving no aid. A plan drawn up by the UN and Jordan's military calls for establishing a new aid… Read more70,000 Syrian refugees stranded in ‘buffer zone’
North America
Biggest prison strike in US history —amid media blackout
Amid a shameful paucity of media coverage, inmates at facilities in several states have organized work stoppages following a call for a nationwide prison strike.
Southeast Asia
Hong Kong activist barred by Thai military regime
Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong was barred from entering Thailand to attend commemorations of the 1976 massacre of student protesters.
The Andes
Colombia: voters reject FARC peace accord
In Colombia's historic plebiscite, voters narrowly rejected the peace pact with the FARC rebels—a major surprise, as all polls had predicted a landslide victory.
North America
UN panel censures US for ‘racial terrorism’
The UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent issued a report concluding that African Americans are owed reparations for historical and ongoing “racial terrorism.”
North Africa
US builds regional drone base in Niger
The US is investing at least $50 million in a military air base in Niger that will be capable of deploying drones to police the greater Sahara and Sahel regions.
The Amazon
Peru: officials to meet with Amazon protesters
Peru's government announced that an official delegation will meet with indigenous protesters who have been blockading a main tributary of the Amazon River.
Mexico
Mexico: top Ayotzinapa investigator resigns
Tomás Zerón de Lucio, head of Mexico's Criminal Investigations Agency, turned in his resignation amid an internal inquiry into his handling of the Ayotzinapa massacre case.
Africa
Chemical attacks in Darfur claimed
Amnesty International claims "horrific evidence" of repeated chemical weapons attacks carried out by Sudanese government forces against civilians, including young children.
Planet Watch
ICC to prosecute environmental crimes
The International Criminal Court released a policy document calling for prosecution of individuals for atrocities committed by destroying the environment.
The Amazon
Peru: satellite to monitor rainforest
Peru launched its first satellite into space this month, to monitor illegal mining, logging and other extractive activities in the country's vast stretch of the Amazon rainforest.