The Andes

Peru: Montesinos cleared in bloody 1997 raid

Peru's Supreme Court acquitted former intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos of charges related to the bloody 1997 raid on the Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima.

Planet Watch

Gulf of Mexico: maybe you missed the bad news…

The gas rig fire off Louisiana is portrayed as a near-miss at worst—while researchers predict a record “dead zone” the size of New Jersey in the Gulf of Mexico this year.

Africa

HRW protests Rwanda aid to Congo rebels

Human Rights Watch reports that the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo is still receiving assistance from Rwanda despite continued human rights abuses.

The Andes

Colombia: strikes halt US coal giant Drummond

Indefinite strikes brought Drummond’s coal mining operations to a halt in Colombia, putting further pressure on the country’s economy amid a growing wave of labor actions. 

Southeast Asia

Chinese mining interests take hit in Philippines

The Philippines high court issued a "temporary environment protection order" against 94 Chinese-owned "small-scale mines" operating on the margins of the law in Luzon region. 

Mexico

Anti-mining protests in Mexico, Canada

The July 22 Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit Mining, most widely observed in the Andean nations, also saw coordinated protests in NAFTA partners Mexico and Canada.