Inner Asia

Protests rock Kazakhstan over land-grabbing

Hundreds have been detained in protests across Kazakhstan over a new government policy to privatize farmlands and open the agricultural sector to foreign capital.

The Andes

Peasant strike rocks Colombia

Campesinos launched a strike across Colombia, with some 100,000 blocking highways and effectively shutting down at least half of the country's 32 departments.

Mexico

Mexican judge approves Chapo extradition

A federal judge in Mexico ruled that drug lord "Chapo" Guzmán may be extradited to the US—where he faces numerous federal charges of trafficking, kidnapping and murder.

Southern Cone

Anti-mining protests shut down in Argentina

On Argentina's Revolution Day, townspeople in Jáchal held a "patriotic march" to oppose the local operations of Barrick Gold—only to be surrounded and arrested by the police.

The Amazon

Peru: state of emergency over illegal mining

Peru's President Ollanta Humala declared a state of emergency in the rainforest region of Madre de Dios following reports of mercury poisoning by outlaw gold-mining operations.

The Andes

Protests mount in Peru ahead of run-off

Lima was treated to the spectacle of topless women being tear-gassed by police at a protest outside the Congress building against a new law to toughen strictures on abortion.