The Andes
Venezuela: Chávez unveils Campesino Militia
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez announced the creation of a new Campesino Militia, which will be under the command of the national Bolivarian Armed Forces (FAB).
Iraq
Iraq: Christian families flee Mosul
Christian families are fleeing Mosul in droves in the aftermath of the murder of a Christian family in the city—a replay of the 2008 exodus in which thousands fled the city.
Iraq
Baghdad death squads get busy again
In one day, 67 corpses were brought to Baghdad morgue all shot with silencer guns. The gunmen drive in mainly four-wheel vehicles and quickly disappear from the crime scene.
Afghanistan
Suicide blasts rock Kabul —again
At least 17 people were killed and 32 wounded when multiple suicide bombers attacked a hotel popular with foreigners and the surrounding area in the center of Kabul.
Greater Middle East
Axis of Evil summit convenes in Damascus
Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Syria’s Bashar Assad and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah met in Damascus for an unprecedented three-way summit on unity against Israel.
Watching the Shadows
Spain’s Judge Garzón faces suspension —after opening Bush-era war crimes probe
Authorities in Spain have moved to suspend investigating magistrate Baltasar Garzón—just as he has opened a probe of John “torture memo” Yoo and other Bush administration figures.
Watching the Shadows
Four Gitmo detainees transferred to Albania, Spain
Four Guantánamo Bay detainees have been transferred to Albania and Spain, the US Department of Justice announced. There are still 188 remaining at the facility.
Watching the Shadows
Federal judge upholds detention of Yemeni Gitmo detainees
A judge ruled that the government can continue to hold indefinitely two Yemeni Guantánamo Bay detainees, even though the men had been cleared for release two years ago.
North America
Anti-Semitic incidents reach record high in Canada: report
B’nai Brith Canada’s 2009 “Audit of Antisemitic Incidents” reports over 1,200 incidents last year, an 11% increase over 2008 and a five-fold increase over the last decade.
Palestine
Israelis, Palestinians woo China; Kaifeng crypto-Jews caught in the middle?
As Israel and Fatah both launch new diplomatic initiatives in China, a group of "lost Jews" from Kaifeng have for the first time made aliyah. Are they serving as pawns of political strategy?
Watching the Shadows
Supreme Court hears arguments on terrorism support law
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project, on whether the law prohibiting material support to terrorism violates the First Amendment.
Afghanistan
Sweep of Afghan Taliban leadership in Pakistan?
Pakistani authorities are reported to have arrested nearly half of the Afghan Taliban’s top leadership, in what is being portrayed as a crucial blow to the insurgent movement.