The Amazon

Lima climate summit in shadow of state terror

Peru's government made much of its rainforest protection efforts at the Lima climate summit—but a new report names it as the fourth most dangerous country for ecology activists.

The Amazon

Andes: repression ahead of Lima climate summit

The slaying of an indigenous leader who planned to travel from Ecuador to denounce a mining project before the Lima climate summit is the latest attack on regional ecological defenders.

Iraq

ISIS blows up birthplace of Saladin

ISIS militants destroyed the Citadel of Tikrit, birthplace of Saladin and one of Iraq's most important archeological sites. The jihadists meanwhile seized several Syrian towns.

Iraq

Iraq: cultural cleansing in Mosul

The ISIS militants that have seized Mosul are engaged in a campaign of cultural cleansing—targeting not only the citiy's inhabitants, but its artistic and historical treasures.

Mexico

Mexico: four die in Chiapas land dispute

Twenty years after the uprising by the indigenous Zapatistas, land issues continue to produce violence in the Chiapas highlands–sometimes with outside encouragement.

Central Asia

Arson attacks on Tibetan monasteries?

Three mysterious blazes at historic Tibetan monasteries across western China in as many months have sparked speculation about a campaign of arson attacks. 

Palestine

Political archaeology advances in West Bank

Israel is financing construction of an "archaeological park" on a contested site in Hebron—assailed by Palestinians as cover for expansion of the city's Jewish settlement. 

Palestine

Israel set to raze 3,000-year-old village

The Israeli High Court is set to rule on the forced expulsion of all of the residents of the West Bank village of Khirbat Zanuta, continuously inhabited for 3,000 years.

The Andes

Peru: developers raze ancient pyramid

A demolition crew razed a pyrmaid at El Paraiso archaeological site in Lima—apparently contracted by developers who covet the lands for a new commerical center.
The Andes

Archaeologists race tomb-raiders in Peru

The archaeologists who unearthed a priceless pre-Inca burial chamber at Huarmey, Peru, were in a race with outlaw tomb-raiders who operate with impunity.