Watching the Shadows

Conviction of al-Qaeda media director vacated

The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit vacated the conspiracy conviction of Ali Hamza Ahmad Suliman al-Bahlul, former media secretary of Osama bin Laden.

Central America

Panama Canal expansion fuels inter-oceanic race

With Chinese investment, Nicaragua is moving ahead with a new inter-oceanic canal plan—in a race with Panama, which is expanding its own canal for a new era of global trade.

Mexico

Mexico: campesinos bear arms against narcos

Cmpesinos in Mexico’s southern Guerrero state have taken up arms to defend themselves from drug-trafficking gangs that terrorize residents and demand protection payments.

The Andes

Colombia: FARC assassinate indigenous leader

A Nasa indigenous leader was assassinated in an ambush by FARC guerillas at the village of Jámbalo, Cauca department, just as the rebels announced an end to their ceasefire.

The Andes

Peru: new mobilization against Conga project

Campesinos in Peru’s northern Cajamarca region began the year with a renewed campaign against the pending Conga mining project, pledging to occupy the concession area.

The Amazon

Peru: new incident at Bagua

A new clash between army troops and locals left two injured at Bagua in the Peruvian Amazon—as prosecutors seek life terms for indigenous leaders in the 2009 violence there.

Greater Middle East

Riots rock Egypt on revolution anniversary

Protesters calling for the fall of President Mohamed Morsi clashed with police clashed in Cairo on the eve of the the second anniversary of the uprising against Hosni Mubarak.

North Africa

Mali: US airlifts French forces

In a mission slated to last two weeks, US Air Force C-17 transport planes are ferrying troops and material from France to Mali for the offensive against jihadist rebels.

Palestine

Israeli pol: ‘blow up’ Dome of the Rock

Knesset candidate Jeremy Gimpel sparked outrage when Israeli TV broadcast footage of him joking before a Florida church group of plans to "blow up" the Dome of the Rock.

East Asia

Shanghai workers seize electronics plant

More than 1,000 migrant workers in Shanghai went on strike and held 18 managers hostage for a day and a half following the introduction of a draconian speed-up policy.