Planet Watch
Biofuels: not so groovy after all
The scientific community finally acknowledges that “biofuels” fuel deforestation—and thereby result in a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.
The Caribbean
Terrorist released from immigration custody (it’s OK, he’s Cuban)
Santiago Alvarez, underwriter of accused right-wing Cuban terrorist Luis Posada Carriles and himself convicted in weapons stockpiling, was released from US immigration custody.
Iraq
Federal court rules Iraq murder case can proceed against Blackwater
A Virginia federal judge affirmed in the notorious Blackwater/Xe case that the murder of civilians in connection with an armed conflict overseas is actionable in the US courts.
Europe
Spain: UN protests arbitrary detentions
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention protested Spain’s imprisonment of Basque nationalist politician Karmelo Landa—as Madrid carried out more raids in the Basque Country.
Europe
Czech Republic: 18 charged following raids on neo-Nazis
Czech police charged 18 followers of the ultra-right White Justice and National Resistance organizations with plotting attacks following raids in Prague and other cities.
North America
Feds target California for gang, marijuana raids
The FBI conducted anti-gang sweeps across South LA, arresting 74 suspected members of the Rolling 40s, as the DEA announced charges against 18 in a high-tech marijuana ring.
Mexico
Justice Department nets 300 in raids on Michoacán’s bloody “Familia”
Staging raids across 19 states, the Justice Department claimed a major blow against the stateside networks of Mexico’s cultish “La Familia Michoacana” drug cartel.
Central America
Guatemala intercepts narco-sub in 10-ton coke haul
The Guatemalan coast guard, with assistance from the US Navy, seized a small submarine carrying a record 10 tons of cocaine—likely the largest drug bust the country has seen.
Afghanistan
US drones assist Pakistan’s anti-Taliban offensive: report
The US military is providing intelligence from Predator drones to assist the Pakistani army in its anti-Taliban offensive in South Waziristan, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Iran
US citizen sentenced in Tehran protests; neocons charge Obama with betrayal
Iran’s sentencing of Kian Tajbakhsh to 12 years for allegedly collaborating with George Soros to subvert the regime comes as neocons accuse Obama of dropping support for Iranian dissidents.
Palestine
HRW dismisses allegations of bias against Israel
Human Rights Watch responded to a New York Times op-ed by the organization’s ex-chairman Robert Bernstein that accused the group of bias against Israel and other “open societies.”
North Africa
Riots rock Algiers as US woos regime for “counter-terrorism”
Hundreds of protesters clashed with riot police in Algiers as US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Vicki Huddleston arrived for talks on closer counter-terrorism ties.