North Africa
ISIS in Libya: now a three-sided war
Both the Islamist-led Libyan Dawn coalition that controls Tripoli and the more secular "official" government now exiled to Tobruk are battling ISIS forces in Libya.
The Andes
Ecuador: general strike in Galápagos
The Galápagos Islands were shut down by a general strike called by residents to protest the repeal of a law subsidizing wages to meet high living costs in the remote territory.
The Andes
Rights defenders under threat in Venezuela
Venezuela's National Assembly president Diosdado Cabello publicly shared details of the private travel arrangements of two members of the PROVEA human rights network.
Southern Cone
Labor split on Argentine transit strike
A transport strike to oppose a wage cap in Argentina brought Buenos Aires to a standstill, but pro-government labor unions called the walk-out politically motivated.
Iraq
Iraq: US sends more troops —amid reprisals
A new force of 450 US military advisors in Iraq will be training Sunni and Shi'ite militias to fight ISIS—amid mounting reports of bloody sectarian reprisals.
Palestine
Israel frees Palestinian parliament speaker
Israeli authorities released Palestinian parliament speaker Aziz Duweik following a year in “administrative detention”—held without trial in contravention of international law.
North Africa
Libya: ISIS abducts Eritrean Christians
As Libyan peace talks open in Morocco, ISIS militants abduced 86 Eritrean Christian migrants—including 12 women and several children—at a roadblock outisde Tripoli.
Greater Middle East
Gains for Kurds, Armenians in Turkish elections
The pro-Kurdish opposition enters parliament for the first time in an upset for Turkey's ruling AK Party—despite a wave of terror attacks on Kurdish party rallies and offices.
Southern Cone
Argentina: indigenous summit in Buenos Aires
Indigenous leaders from across Argentina's 17 provinces met in Buenos Aires to coordinate resistance to dispossession from their ancestral lands by development interests.
Iran
Iran: artist gets 12 years for political cartoon
Iranian artist Atena Farghadani was sentenced to 12 years for a cartoon that satirized parliamentarians who voted for a law that restricts women's access to contraception.
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.
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.