The Andes
Bolivia: prison corruption scandal widens
A Brooklyn businessman was freed from prison in Bolivia on money-laundering charges after he accused authorities of extorting him and illegally seizing his goods.
Greater Middle East
Saudi Arabia: blogger faces death penalty
Human Rights Watch has urged Saudi Arabia to dismiss a criminal case against a website editor who may face the death penalty on apostasy charges for abandoning Islam.
Greater Middle East
Egypt: president signs new constitution into law
President Morsi signed Egypt's new constitution into law, despite the fact that only 33% of Egypt's total of 52 million voters actually participated in the referendum.
Mexico
Campesinos block gold mine in Zacatecas
Campesinos in Zacatecas are blocking the gates of a gold mine owned by magnate Carlos Slim to protest ecological impacts on their communal lands.
Mexico
Mexico: bloody Christmas in Michoacán, Sinaloa
A spate of shootouts between rival cartels and police forces left over 20 dead around the Christmas holiday in the Mexican states of Michoacán, Jalisco and Sinaloa.
North America
Abraham Lincoln’s Dakota massacre recalled
At a ceremony in Minnesota, Dakota Indians and their supporters commemorated the 150th anniversary of the largest mass execution in US history—ordered by President Lincoln.
Africa
Central African Republic rebels advance
Rebels who have taken up arms again in the Central African Republic’s south, accusing the regime of not honoring peace accords, have seized several towns in the south.
The Caribbean
Puerto Rico: government, US agree on police reform
The government of Puerto Rico has responded to a scathing report from the US Justice Department by agreeing to reform the island’s police department.
Southern Cone
Argentina: first civilian sentenced for ‘dirty war’
A court sentenced 16 former officials to life in prison for crimes against humanity in the cases of 280 people detained during the “dirty war” against suspected leftists.
Southern Cone
Argentina: massive looting returns after 11 years
Argentina’s first wave of store lootings since 2001 started with people with covered faces breaking into six supermarkets in San Carlos de Bariloche, an Andean ski resort town.
Mexico
Mexico: new details emerge on Wal-Mart scandal
Following up on an exposé last April of bribery by Wal-Mart de México, NY Times reporters have identified 19 Wal-Mart stores whose construction was aided by corruption.
Mexico
Mexico: analysts compare Newtown killings and ‘drug war’ deaths
“It is shocking how the debate over gun control in the wake of the Newtown massacre has avoided mentioning gun violence south of the border”: UNAM professor John M. Ackerman.