Watching the Shadows
Senate bill to halt release of Gitmo inmates
A group of US senators led by John McCain proposed legislation that would place a moratorium on the release or transfer of prisoners from Guantánamo Bay.
Iraq
US media betray Kobani defenders
US media accounts of gains against ISIS at Kobani play up the role of US air-strikes and depreciate that of Kurdish fighters—or even deny the success at Kobani entirely.
The Andes
Ecuador: Correa blinks in stand-off with CONAIE
The government of Rafael Correa postponed a decision on eviction of indigenous organization CONAIE from its Quito offices, but lines are drawn for a confrontation.
The Andes
Colombia: will government answer FARC ceasefire?
With peace talks set to resume, Colombia’s FARC rebels charge that the military is continuing “offensive operations” despite a unilateral ceasefire declared by the guerillas.
Central America
Guatemala postpones ex-dictator’s genocide retrial
The retrial of Guatemala's ex-dictator Efrain Rios Montt on genocide charges was delayed—on the basis of the judge having written a university thesis on genocide.
Inner Asia
Human rights lawyer imprisoned in Tajikistan
A court in Tajikistan sentenced human rights lawyer Sukhrat Kudratov to nine years in prison, in what Amnesty International called "a serious setback for the freedom of expression."
Africa
Uganda rebel commander to be transferred to ICC
Uganda sid it will send Dominic Ongwen, a leader of the Lord's Resistance Army, to trial at the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The Caribbean
Haiti: US grants UN immunity in cholera suit
A US court has ruled that the UN can't be sued for actions by its "peacekeepers"—even for starting a deadly epidemic—unless the UN decides to waive its immunity.
The Andes
Peru: Fujimori sentenced for tabloid bribery
The former president was once hailed for his ruthless neoliberal programs and his defeat of two rebel groups. Now he's serving 25 years for murder and corruption.
Mexico
Mexico: protests follow Peña Nieto to Washington
President Obama offered to help Mexico fight corruption and political violence, probably by more funding for programs that protesters say simply fuel the crisis.
Southern Cone
Latin America: why did Monsanto profits dip?
South America remains a huge market for Monsanto's GM seeds, but grassroots resistance may be starting to affect the company's bottom line.
Europe
Europe: destroying freedom to save it
At thier meeting in Paris to condemn the attack on Charlie Hebdo, European Union government ministers issued a statement calling for further restrictions on the Internet.