Gunmen killed at least 18 people in outlying districts of Sao Paulo, and authorities suspect a coordinated campaign of revenge by off-duty officers for the death of two colleagues.
Peru's army announced that it had "rescued" 39 people—the majority indigenous Asháninka and 26 of them underage—who were held captive in Sendero Luminoso camps.
Mexican army troops fired on villagers who blocked roads when soldiers arrived to arrest the leader of a self-defense militia who refused orders to demobilize.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and related networks are said to control Saharan smuggling routes for Moroccan hashish to fund their regional operations.
Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos announced details of an operation to seize nearly 278,000 hectares said to have been illegally usurped by the FARC.
Colombia surpassed Peru last year in land under coca cultivation, resuming the dubious honor of the number one position for the first time since 2012.
A human rights group in Mexico released new evidence that military officers gave orders to kill prior to an army mass slaying of more than 20 supposed narco-gang members.
The UN International Commission Against Impunity reported that approximately a quarter of the money used for Guatemalan political campaigns is from criminal groups.
Fighters loyal to ISIS have seized substantial territory in Afghanistan, burning opium fields in an apparent bid to stigmatize the Taliban as corrupt and soft on drugs.
A massive manhunt is underway in Mexico after the country's most notorious drug lord escaped from the country's highest security prison through a secret tunnel.
Mexico's ruling coalition kept its slim majority in elections marred by violence and assassination of candidates. Striking teachers attempted to disrupt the vote, calling it a farce.
Peace talks with the FARC rebels resumed in Havana—but rather than answering rebel calls for a bilateral ceasefire, the government has stepped up air-strikes.
