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.”

North America

Federal appeals court blocks (parts of) Alabama immigration law

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily blocked portions of Alabama’s controversial immigration law in response to a motion filed by the Justice Department and a coalition of immigrants rights groups after a lower court twice refused to block the law.

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.

Southern Cone

Paraguay: indigenous Aché defend land with bows and arrows

The indigenous Aché community of Chupa Pou in Paraguay sent warriors armed with bows and arrows into a 2,000-hectare area to defend it from Brazilian farmers who had invaded the land, in violation of Aché territorial rights recognized by Paraguayan law.

Greater Middle East

Egypt: court overturns ban on religious-based political party

An Egyptian court overturned a ban that prohibited presidential hopeful Ayman Nour from officially forming the Islamic-based political party Gama’a al-Islamiya. But the ruling military council instated a ban on religious-based campaign slogans.