Greater Middle East
Lebanon: military court convicts cleric on terrorism charges
A Lebanese military court convicted radical cleric Omar Bakri Mohammed in absentia on terrorism charges and sentenced him to life in prison.
Central America
Google Maps at issue in Central American border conflict
Nicaragua has refused to withdraw troops from a disputed island along the river border with Costa Rica, and is asking Google not to change its maps with respect to the contested area.
Watching the Shadows
No charges to be filed in CIA videotape destruction case
No criminal charges will be brought against CIA officials for destroying videotapes of terror suspect interrogations during the Bush administration, the Justice Department announced.
The Amazon
Peru: CIA releases report on “drug plane” shooting
The CIA has released the full text of a 2008 report on the 2001 downing of a civilian plane in Peru, finding numerous procedural violations that “CIA officers knew of and condoned.”
The Caribbean
Haiti: hurricane passes, cholera spreads
At least eight people died and two disappeared when Hurricane Tomas struck Haiti; the cholera epidemic continues, and health experts fear the flooding from Tomas may help it spread.
Central America
Costa Rica: gold mine protesters end fast
A group of Costa Rican environmental activists held a “Cultural Festival for Life” to conclude a hunger strike they began on Oct. 8 against the projected Las Crucitas open-pit gold mine.
Central America
Guatemala: is the Goldcorp mine still polluting?
Guatemala’s Environment Ministry has filed a criminal complaint against the local subsidiary of the Goldcorp mining giant for possible pollution of the Quivichil River.
The Andes
China and Colombia in trade, military pacts
Colombia’s deal with the Chinese Foton Motor Group to build an assembly plant in the Andean nation follows a recent pact with Beijing for $1 million in military assistance and training.
The Andes
FARC guerilla who killed “Ivan Rios” gets prison
The guerilla who in 2008 killed “Ivan Rios,” one the FARC’s top commanders, was sentenced to 31 years for kidnapping and rebellion. The ex-guerilla complained he was betrayed by the authorities.
The Andes
Colombia: Uribe ordered to testify in Drummond case
Colombia’s former President Alvaro Uribe was subpoenaed to testify in a civil case against Alabama coal giant Drummond over the company’s alleged ties to paramilitary death squads.
WHY WE FIGHT
From the Oakland Tribune, Nov. 4: Two killed in East Oakland after CHP chase OAKLAND — Mark Aragon was driving to one of two jobs he worked to support his wife and three stepdaughters when he died in an East… Read moreWHY WE FIGHT
North America
Oklahoma Islamic law ban challenged
The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed suit challenging the constitutionality of State Question 755, which bans the use of Islamic law in state court decisions.