The Andes
Colombia: FARC break off ceasefire after air-strike
The FARC called off their unilateral ceasefire after some 20 fighters were killed in an air-strike on a guerilla camp in Colombia's southwest region of Cauca.
Author: CounterVortex
Greater Middle East
Turkey: mine disaster survivors face prison
Nine Turkish miners demanding justice in last year's Soma mining disaster that killed over 300 face six years in prison for violating the law restricting demonstrations.
The Andes
Peru: Sendero links to Colombian cartel claimed
Peru's authorities claim to have evidence that the neo-Senderistas are in league with a re-organized Colombian cocaine cartel, ironically known as the "Cafeteros" (coffee-producers).
Central America
Narco angle in Guatemala political crisis
Protesters are demanding that Guatemala's President Otto Pérez step down following corruption revelations—including claims linking his administration to narco-traffickers.
Mexico
Mexico: cartels declare open season on candidates
Mexico's drug cartels appear to have declared open season on any candidate for public office who will not toe their line in the run-up to June's midterm elections.
Palestine
Hamas battles ISIS in Gaza Strip
The self-proclaimed "Supporters of the Islamic State in Jerusalem" issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the Hamas administration to halt its crackdown on the group in the Gaza Strip.
Greater Middle East
ISIS insurgency escalates in Sinai Peninsula
Several were killed and a mosque reportedly destroyed as Egyptian security forces battled militants of the ISIS-aligned Ansar Bait al-Maqdis in the Sinai Peninsula.
Greater Middle East
ISIS blows up Syrian prison at Palmyra
ISIS militants blew up the Tadmur prison complex at Palmyra—a move protested by Syria's civil resistance as destroying evidence of the Assad regime's crimes there.
The Andes
Peru: one dead in Nazca iron mine strike
One was killed at some 200 injured when police fired on striking miners blocking a highway near the Shougang Hierro iron mine in Peru's coastal province of Nazca.
Southeast Asia
Burma: Dalai Lama challenges Suu Kyi on Rohingya
The Dalai Lama appealed to Burma's Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to speak up for the country's persecuted Muslim Rohingya minority amid a worsening refugee crisis.
Iraq
Iraq: Yazidis demand autonomous zone
Haider Shasho, commander of the Yazidi ethnic milita, was arrested by Kurdish forces for refusing to submit to their command and advocating a Yazidi autonomous zone.
Palestine
Israel bombs Gaza; Amnesty accuses Hamas
As Israel launches new air-strikes on the Gaza Strip in response to a cross-border rocket, an Amnesty International report accuses Hamas of killing and torturing dissidents.