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.
Watching the Shadows
Last UK detainee released from Gitmo
The last remaining British inmate at Guantánamo Bay, Shaker Aamer, was released to the UK, bringing the number detainees at the facility to 112.
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.
Southeast Asia
Hague to rule in South China Sea dispute
Amid US brinkmanship in the South China Sea, a UN arbitration court agreed to hear the Philippines' challenge of Beijing's territorial claims.
Watching the Shadows
Pentagon nixes 9-11 defendant’s bid to fire lawyer
The long-delayed Guantánamo tribunal against the 9-11 defendants continues to be mired in controversies and irregularities.
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."
Greater Middle East
Saudi Arabia confirms Shi’ite cleric’s death sentence
Saudi Arabia's high court upheld the death sentence of Shi'ite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, found guilty of sedition over Arab Spring protests.
South Asia
Bangladesh: ISIS claims sectarian terror attack
ISIS claimed responsibility for blasts that targeted Shi'ites as they gathered in Dhaka for a procession marking the holy day of Ashura.
North Africa
Meanwhile in, um, Benghazi…
Missiles and mortar rounds were fired into a crowd of anti-Islamist demonstrators in central Benghazi, killing six and injuring many more.