The Andes
Peru: naked protesters storm congress
National Police troops used tear-gas and armored vehicles against hundreds of partially naked marchers for abortion rights who attempted to storm Peru's Congress building.
Planet Watch
British Columbia mine waste spill: one year later
One year after a catastrophic waste spill at British Columbia's Mount Polley Mine, the facility is set to re-open—but its expansion is blocked by the opposition of local First Nations.
Southern Cone
Chile: suicide follows ‘dirty war’ conviction
One day after Chile's Supreme Court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for a "dirty war" crime, a Pinochet-era general shot himself in the head in his apartment in Santiago.
The Andes
Colombia: peace negotiator implicated in atrocity
An imprisoned paramilitary commander testified that an army general taking part in peace talks with FARC rebels was involved in the killing of journalist and comedian Jaime Garzón.
The Andes
Ecuador: general strike, indigenous march on Quito
An indigenous March for Life and Dignity arrived in Quito just as a general strike was launched to press Ecuador's President Rafael Correa on economic and environmental demands.
The Amazon
Brazil: indigenous activists occupy Justice Ministry
Some 100 Guarani activists launched an occupation of the Justice Ministry building in Brasilia, demanding action on demarcation of ancestral lands usurped by ranchers and agribusiness.
Greater Middle East
Syria: ‘ceasefire’ signals Great Power carve-up?
A partial ceasefire in Syria was brokered by the great regional enemies Turkey and Iran—and may signal the division of the country into "spheres of influence."
New York City
WHY WE FIGHT
From Gothamist, Aug. 11: Cobble Hill Locals Mourn Death of Beloved Oriental Pastry & Grocery Co-Owner Cobble Hill shopkeepers and local residents are reeling from the sudden death of Muyassar Moustapha, who was fatally run over on Atlantic Avenue on… Read moreWHY WE FIGHT
Iraq
Kurdish diva wages culture war on ISIS
Kurdish-American pop singer Helly Luv is facing death threats from ISIS after travelling to the frontline in northern Iraq to produce a music video cheering on the Peshmerga.
Iraq
Syria war toll passes quarter million
Nearly a quarter of a million people have died in Syria's war since March 2011, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights—over a third civilians.
Greater Middle East
Turkey slips toward internal war
As Turkey continues to bomb Kurdish anti-ISIS fighters in Iraq, violence is quickly spreading within Turkey itself—with bombings and armed clashes from Istanbul to the Kurdish east.
Iraq
Mass protests shake Baghdad regime
Tens of thousands took to the streets of Baghdad to protest economic conditions and corruption. The demonstrations are bringing together Sunnis, Shi'ites and leftists.