Threats from resurgent paramilitary groups continue against the San José de Apartadó Peace Community in Colombia's conflicted Urabá region. On the morning of Nov. 7 at the San José vereda (hamlet) of Playa Larga, some 50 rifle-wielding paramilitaries in camo gear and characteristic armbands detained resident Jairo Berrio Arango. He was forced to undress as the gunmen held a rifle to his head and threatened to kill him on the spot. When his father arrived on the scene and pleaded with the gunmen, they said they wouldn't kill him now—but that they had six San José community members targeted for death, and that they should flee immediately to avoid assassination. They said they had the cooperation of the army. Five families have already fled the vereda of Esperanza, where Berrio Arango's family is from. (San José de Apartadó Peace Community statement, Nov. 8)

Mexican federal police Nov. 7 apprehended Gulf Cartel kingpin Jaime "the Hummer" González, one of the country's most-wanted men, in an intelligence operation in the border city of Reynosa. An armed commando tried to rescue González as troops drove to Reynosa airport to fly him to Mexico City, sparking a fierece gun battle. González is a founding member of the Gulf Cartel's armed wing, Los Zetas, and is believed to be close to the group's leader Heriberto "the Executioner" Lazcano. (EFE, Nov. 8; Reuters, Nov. 7)

As the grassroots right groundswell mobilized by Sarah Palin subsides in defeat, the New York Times reports Nov. 7 a sudden surge of gun sales across rural America—explicitly seen as a response to the election of Barack Obama—with NRA propaganda fueling the flames:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in a letter congratulating US president-elect Barack Obama, said his nation and the world expect "fundamental" changes to US policy, and "welcomed" the prospect for "justice, respect for human rights, friendship, and non-interference in other countries' internal affairs."

Two Iraqi insurgent groups called on president-elect Barack Obama to withdraw US forces from Iraq, an Internet monitoring service reported Nov. 7. Abu Omar al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State of Iraq said it would be better "for you and us" to "withdraw your forces," according to the SITE Intelligence Group. "You do not interfere in the affairs of our countries," he continued in an apparent reference to Muslim nations. "We, in turn, will not prevent commerce with you, whether it is in oil or otherwise."

Pakistan security officials say a suspected US missile strike into the North Waziristan region killed ten people Nov. 7. Reports indicate most of the militants killed were "foreigners." The strike is said to have targeted an al-Qaeda training center in the mountains south of the town of Mir Ali. (Radio Australia, Nov. 7)

On Nov. 4, Election Night, as spontaneous celebrations of Barack Obama's victory broke out all over New York City, Liberian immigrant Ali Kamara, 17, was brutally beaten by four white men armed with baseball bats who screamed "Obama" at him near his home in the Stapleton district of Staten Island. Kamara, a Muslim whose family arrived in 2000, was returning home at around 11 PM when the men jumped out of a car and assaulted him. He was left with a head injury which required staples. "Our hate crimes task force is investigating and treating this as a possible bias crime," said Police Commissioner Ray Kelly. (Daily News, Nov. 6; ABC Eyewitness News, Nov. 5)

Hugo Chávez says he is ready to talk to Barack Obama despite the president-elect's past criticism of the Venezuelan leader. "We are convinced that the hour has arrived to establish new relations between our countries and our regions, based on the principles of respect for sovereignty, equality and true cooperation," the Venezuelan government statement read. Bolivian President Evo Morales likewise said, "I am sure that relations between the Bolivian government and the US government are going to improve."