Planet Watch
Obama and the KXL-TPP contradiction
Obama nixed the Keystone XL pipeline a day after announcing he will sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership—which includes mechanisms for challenging the KXL cancellation.
The Andes
Amnesty presses Colombia on indigenous rights
Amnesty International finds that Colombia's peace deal is unlikely to succeed without restitution of usurped lands—even where they have been opened to mining.
Afghanistan
UN sees decline in Afghan opium: Pyrrhic victory?
The UN notes a sharp drop in opium cultivation in Afghanistan after years of big increases—but due to drought and desertification, not government eradication efforts.
Southeast Asia
Burma: will ceasefire wind down opium war?
Burma’s regime signs a "national ceasefire" with ethnic rebels in the opium-producing north ahead of historic elections—but the biggest rebel armies didn’t sign on.
Mexico
Mexico: narcos in assassination attempt on ex-gov?
Fernando Moreno Peña, ex-governor of Mexico's narco-stronghold Colima state, survived an assassination attempt. Two predecessors were not so lucky.
Mexico
Extraditions signal continued Sinaloa impunity?
Mexico extradited 13 top drug-trafficking suspects to the United States—but all from Los Zetas and other rival organzations to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Central America
Honduras oligarchs busted for money-laundering
Three members of the the Rosenthal family, a pillar of ruling elite in Honduras, were charged by US authorities with money-laundering.
Greater Middle East
US sells Turkey ‘smart bombs’ (to use against Kurds)
The Pentagon announces the sale of 900 "smart bombs" to Turkey just as Ankara is preparing to move against US-backed Kurdish forces in Syria.
Iraq
Iran behind attack on Mujahedeen Khalq camp?
Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen Khalq charged that Tehran's agents were behind a deadly missile attack on their Baghdad camp.
Iran
US embraces Iran as (ironic) ‘peace’ partner in Syria
Iran is invited to the US-backed Vienna "peace" talks on the Syria war—seeming to confirm suspicions that cooperation against ISIS was the real motive behind the nuclear deal.
Iraq
US ground troops to Iraq, Syria: Pentagon
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in a statement to Congress that the US will begin ground operations against ISIS forces in Iraq and Syria.
Greater Middle East
Turkey attacks Kurdish positions on Syrian border
Turkish military forces attacked Kurdish positions on the Syrian border, raising fears that Turkey is moving to establish its "buffer zone."