For today, links to reports from the Berkshire Eagle, Reuters, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (UKRAINE and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Tiny Guyana stands up to big Venezuela, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle  Under the prodding of Brazil, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro met last Thursday for face to face talks about the escalating dispute over the Esseqibo region rich in oil and minerals. Both countries promised not to resort to . . . READ MORE . . . 

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U.S. closes two rail bridges to Mexico amid migrant surge.  From Reuters.  U.S. border officials on Sunday closed two rail bridges that move freight between Texas and Mexico after detecting a surge in the smuggling of migrants through Mexico by train. The move by U.S. Customs and Border Protection was the latest in a series of similar closures along the border in order to redeploy enforcement resources . . . READ MORE . . . 

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Chilean voters reject conservative constitution, by Maria Verza and Patricia Luna  | AP  SANTIAGO — Voters rejected on Sunday a proposed conservative constitution to replace Chile’s dictatorship-era charter, showing both the deep division in the South American country and the inability of political sectors to address people’s demands for change made four years ago. About 55.8% voted “no” to the new charter, about 44.2% in favor. In 2022, Chileans resoundingly rejected a . . . READ MORE . . . 

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Colombia activists risk their lives to protect the environment. Reported by John Otis  | NPR  A report published in September by the London-based advocacy group Global Witness ranks Colombia as the most dangerous country in the world for environmental defenders and those defending land rights for Indigenous and other local community groups. Of the 177 green activists killed around the world last year, the report says, 60 were . . . READ MORE . . .