Watching the Shadows
DoD announces transfer of Gitmo detainees
The US Department of Defense announced the transfer of five detainees from Guantánamo Bay to Slovakia and Goergia, leaving 143 prisoners at the facility.
Greater Middle East
Amnesty: Syrian refugees face abuse in Turkey
Amnesty International accuses Turkey of firing on refugees at the Syrian border, and charges that the 1.6 million refugees within Turkey face destitution.
Iraq
Global terrorism survey finds surging attacks
A study by UK-based Institute for Economics and Peace finds there were nearly 10,000 terrorist attacks in 2013, 44% more than the year before.
Palestine
ISIS targets Jordan —and vice versa
Militants declared for ISIS in Jordan's restive city of Maan. France has supplied Jordan with new warplanes, and the kingdom is reported to already have troops in Iraq.
Iraq
Rojava revolution speaks in New York City
A forum at New York's City College featured a Skype link to Saleh Muslim, political leader of the Kurdish resistance at Kobani, and vividly described life in the besieged autonomous zone.
Palestine
Genocidal threshold looms closer in Jerusalem
Mounting attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians are going virtually unreported as Netanyahu pledges a "harsh" response to the deadly Jerusalem synagogue attack.
Mexico
Tamaulipas: ‘citizen journalist’ assassinated
"Citizen journalists" who continued to report on the bloody cartel wars in Tamaulipas after the newspapers were terrorized into silence are now being targeted for assassination.
The Amazon
Brazil: police unit suspected in Belém massacre
A mass killing in several poor neighborhoods seems to be the work of an elite police unit. Based on Brazil's record, the police agents are unlikely to face criminal charges.
Mexico
Mexico: students wounded as protests continue
Militant protests over the killing of students from Ayotzinapa still haven't let up after two months. Is the government planning a crackdown?
Mexico
US elite starts to doubt ‘Mexican Moment’
Just a few months ago US editors and politicians were gushing over President Peña Nieto and his "reform" agenda. Now they seem to be having second thoughts.
Central America
Latin America: GAO reports on FTA labor violations
The US has been requiring its "free trade" partners to meet certain labor standards. A US government report raises questions about the policy's effectiveness.
The Andes
Colombia: peace talks off as FARC capture general
Colombia's government suspended peace talks with the FARC after the apparent capture of an army general by the guerillas for the first time in 50 years of insurgency.