judibari

JB1

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the relocation of the US airbase at Futenma to Henoko, elsewhere on the island of Okinawa, would continue despite a referendum vote opposing the move. Okinawa prefecture held a referendum vote on whether the US military base should relocate from Ginowan municipality to Henoko. After the final count, approximately 70% of voters opposed the move. The relocation has been 20 years in preparation, and has continued to face opposition over claims of noise from military activity, harm to the surrounding coral reefs, and outrage over a 1995 incident of rape of a 12-year-old Okinawan girl by US servicemen. Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki plans to make a visit to Tokyo to reaffirm the island's position. (Photo via Alwaght)

Southern Cone

Argentine connection in Iran assassination plot alleged

Reuters reports that Saudi officials advised Argentina about an Iran-backed plot to kill the Saudi ambassador in Washington. Meanwhile, US and/or Israeli agents have carried out three assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists this year.

Mexico

Mexico: 20 dead in Matamoros prison riot

At least 20 inmates were killed and 12 injured in rioting at a prison in the violence-torn Mexican border city of Matamoros. Federal and state police as well as army troops were brought in to help guards restore control of the facility.

New York City

WHY WE FIGHT

From The Villager, Oct. 13: SUV driver arrested after assaulting pedestrian An interaction between a driver and a pedestrian in the East Village turned violent Friday evening when the former chased the latter into the St. Mark’s Bookshop, grabbed her… Read moreWHY WE FIGHT

Planet Watch

Occupy Wall Street protests go global

The Occupy Wall Street movement reports demonstrations in over 1,500 cities across the globe Saturday, including over 100 US cities from coast to coast. Scores were arrested in New York, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Sacramento and San Diego.

North Africa

Libya: oil workers flex muscle

Striking workers at Libya’s Waha Oil firm, which operates in a joint venture with US companies, agreed to return to work after the government said it will dismiss chairman Bashir Elshahab, accused of being a crony of ousted dictator Moammar Qaddafi.

North Africa

Is Iraq model for Libya?

With Western warplanes still bombing Sirte, TNC Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril visited Baghdad to meet with his Iraqi counterpart Nouri al-Maliki, who pledged to support Libya, noting (without irony) “similarities between the Iraqi and Libyan experiences.”

The Amazon

Has Bolivia really canceled Amazon highway project?

Despite a new law that supposedly halts the controversial highway through the Bolivian rainforest, construction in fact continues. Supporters of President Evo Morales rallied in La Paz in favor of the road, as the cross-country march in protest of it continues.