Palestine
Israel sprays crop-killing pesticides on Gaza
Israeli planes sprayed Palestinian agricultural lands along the Gaza Strip border with pesticides, killing off crops of vegetables and beans.
The Andes
Colombia: official apology in 1988 massacre
At a public ceremony in the Colombian town of Segovia, the government formally acknowledged responsibility in the 1988 massacre of 43 residents by paramilitaries.
Southeast Asia
Mindanao: toward sectarian war
In a series of Christmas eve attacks, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters killed several Christian peasants in the southern Philippines island of Mindanao.
Central America
Setbacks for Nicaragua canal project
Financial woes for the Hong Kong-based developer and an unfavorable World Court ruling in a border dispute with Costa Rica have slowed Nicaragua's inter-oceanic canal project.
Iraq
Wonks see ‘failed states’ in Iraq, Syria
Ex-CIA director James Woolsey charged that the Obama administration has no strategy for dealing with "failed states" in Iraq and Syria.
North Africa
Mali: French commando raid targets wrong group?
French special forces carried out a raid in northern Mali targeting the jihadist group al-Murabitoon—but a pro-government Arab militia said four of its fighters were killed.
The Andes
Colombia: ‘impunity’ seen in deal with FARC
Human Rights Watch rejected a "transitional justice" deal between Colombia's government and FARC rebels, claiming it "sacrifices victims' right to justice."
The Amazon
Peru: miner protests paralyze rainforest region
Informal gold-miners paralyzed Peru's southern rainforest region of Madre de Dios for weeks to demand the overturn of executive decrees restricting their activities.
Greater Middle East
Syria: ‘peace deal’ signals escalation (of course)
The UN resolution on a democratic transition in Syria assumes this can happen under Assad's rule. The US is now openly blocking with Russia over support for the dictatorship.
North Africa
US Special Forces repulsed in Libya: report
Libya's rival regimes agreed to form a national unity government, but a contingent of US Special Forces sent to fight ISIS withdrew after being confronted by a local militia.
Afghanistan
Pakistan: anti-narco ops militarize tribal areas
A military campaign against the Taliban in Pakistan's Tribal Areas has left a million displaced over the past year—and is now compounded with anti-hashish operations.
The Amazon
Brazil: ‘zero deforestation’ push
Greenpeace sent 1.4 million signatures to Brazil's congress demanding a "zero deforestation" law—while cattle and timber barons push a bill to further open indigenous lands.