The Andes
Peru: mine engineer held by indigenous protesters
An engineer for the Águila Dorada mining company was detained by members of an Awajún indigenous community in Peru's northern Cajamarca region.
The Andes
Colombia: military, CIA spying on peace talks
Colombia’s Defense Ministry opened an investigation into claims of eavesdropping on delegations to ongoing peace talks between the government and FARC rebels.
Iran
Nobel Peace laureate slams Iran over Syria role
Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi spoke out against her own government and Russia for their "intervention in Syria" on the side of Bashar Assad's regime.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan civilian casualties rose 14% in 2013
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan issued its 2013 Annual Report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, which found a total of 8,615 civilian casualties.
South Asia
Bangladesh Islamist dies awaiting war crimes trial
Jamaat-e-Islami leader AKM Yusuf died at age 87 while awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The Caribbean
Haiti: human rights activist gunned down
Haitian authorities imply that the killing of rights campaigner Daniel Dorsinvil and his wife was a common crime, but activists are demanding an investigation.
Southern Cone
Brazil: fare protesters open turnstiles in Rio
Police and protesters battled in Rio de Janeiro's central train station, and commuters got a brief experience of a no-fare transit system—but with tear gas.
The Caribbean
Dominican Republic: new plan for ‘foreigners’
The Dominican government says it has an "ambitious and comprehensive plan" to "regularize" Dominicans of Haitian descent; human rights advocates may not agree.
The Caribbean
Puerto Rico: bonds are junked despite ‘reforms’
Puerto Rican officials followed Wall Street's instructions for austerity, and Wall Street rewarded them by reducing the island's bonds to junk status.
The Caucasus
Olympics in Sochi; state terror in Dagestan
With the Winter Olympics underway in Sochi, Russian special forces troops have killed several suspected militants in a series of raids in Dagestan, just across the Caucasus. (Map: Wikitravel)
North Africa
Algeria: Berbers targeted in sectarian attacks
National Gendarmerie troops have been rushed to Algeria's desert city of Ghardaia amid a wave of sectarian attacks on Berber followers of the Ibadi sect of Islam.
Greater Middle East
Turkey: street clashes over cyber freedom
Riot police in Istanbul used water cannons against demonstrators in the latest protest against a bill that would increase government control over the Internet.