Mexico
Mexico: Peña pledges to resolve Ayotzinapa crisis
Mexico's president may have recited a slogan popular with protesters, but crackdowns on activists suggest he isn't about to give in to their demands.
Tag: police state
Mexico
Mexico: two defenders of migrants are murdered
Central Americans crossing Mexico on their way to the US border still face attacks by criminal gangs—and so do Mexican activists trying to help the migrants.
North America
UN committee against torture criticizes US
The UN Committee Against Torture urged the US to begin prompt investigations into all cases of police brutality and excessive use of force, especially citing the Ferguson case.
East Asia
Hong Kong to Ferguson: corporate police state
The pepper spray used by Hong Kong police is made by the Sabre company—its headquarters just oustide Ferguson, Mo., now exploding into protest over the Michael Brown case.
Europe
UK announces sweeping anti-terrorism bill
The UK Home Secretary announced a new Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill that would expand travel restrictions and Internet surveillance.
Southern Cone
Police extermination campaign in Brazil’s favelas?
Media reports in Brazil suggest that the crackdown on favela gangs in the prelude to this year's contentious World Cup was actually a police extermination campaign of favela youth.
Southeast Asia
Worldwide despots: Orwell still dangerous
Protesters in military-ruled Thailand have been silently reading 1984 in public to outwit a ban on gatherings—leading to the book itself being banned. Egypt could be next.
The Amazon
Brazil: police unit suspected in Belém massacre
A mass killing in several poor neighborhoods seems to be the work of an elite police unit. Based on Brazil's record, the police agents are unlikely to face criminal charges.
Africa
South Sudan passes controversial security bill
Lawmakers in South Sudan passed a controversial bill that gives security forces the power to arrest suspected criminals without a warrant, prompting an opposition walk-out.
Mexico
Mexico: torture increased 600% in 10 years
Reports of torture soared after Mexico's government began its militarized "war on drugs," but the tradition of de facto impunity for torturers appears not to have changed.
Southern Cone
Brazil: Haiti mission shaped Rio police unit
The UN mission in Haiti influenced the creation of special urban police units in Brazil—and helped the Brazilian military make up for shortfalls in its training budget.
North America
Police try to block annual SOA vigil
Just when the child migrant "crisis" is drawing attention to abuses by US-trained Latin American military officers, local police are trying to close down the annual SOA protest.