Mexico
Mexico: Tarahumara forest defender assassinated
Isidro Baldenegro, a Tarahumara indigenous activist in Mexico's Chihuahua state who fought for the preservation of forest lands, was assassinated by unknown gunmen.
The Caribbean
Clemency for Oscar López Rivera
Oscar López Rivera, the longest-held Puerto Rican political prisoner in the US, was among 209 federal inmates granted clemency by outgoing President Barack Obama. (Photo via PM Press)
The Amazon
Brazil: 60 dead in narco-fueled prison massacre
A New Year's Day prison riot in Brazil's Amazon riverport city of Manaus left up to 60 dead—with many of the bodies decapitated, mutilated and burned.
North America
Human Rights Watch: Trump portends ‘tyranny’
In its yearly report, Human Rights Watch warns that the rise of populist leaders "poses a dangerous threat to basic rights"—particularly naming Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
North Africa
Russia’s next intervention: Libya?
Khalifa Haftar, the warlord who controls eastern Libya, was feted on board the Russian aircraft carrier that just left Syrian waters, sparking fear of Moscow's regional designs.
Syria
Russia ‘withdraws’ from Syria —not
Despite misleading media accounts, Moscow has only withdrawn its aircraft carier from Syria’s coast, and is in fact beefing up forces at its bases within the country.
Southern Cone
Argentina: Mapuche land struggle terrorist-baited
Authorities in Argentina's Chubut province accused Mapuche indigenous activists of being "terrorists" after a clash with police at a protest encampment on usurped lands.
Greater Middle East
Turkey: life term for Kurdish opposition leader?
Turkish prosecutors are seeking a life sentence for Figen Yüksekdağ, co-chair of the Kurdish-led Peoples’ Democratic Party, on charges of “terrorism” for her alleged ties to PKK.
The Amazon
Bolivia plans Amazon ‘mega-dams’ amid opposition
Indigenous communities in the Bolivian Amazon are joining with ecologists to oppose a "mega-dam" complex the government has announced for the Río Beni.
Mexico
Mexico: protest caravan for missing students
A "Caravan for Memory and Hope" departed from Guerrero state toward Mexico City to demand justice in the case of the 43 "disappeared" college students.
Watching the Shadows
Obama’s final year: a CounterVortex scorecard
With a Trump despotism looming, CounterVortex offers its final assessment of Barack Obama's record in addressing the oppressive legacy of the Global War on Terrorism.
Watching the Shadows
Amnesty: ‘final plea’ to Obama to close Gitmo
Ahead of the 15th anniversary of the first detainees arriving at Guantánamo Bay, Amnesty International issued a "final plea" to President Obama to close the facility.