Video: 34 American nations back Ecuador in UK diplomatic spat

34 members of the Organization of American States are backing Ecuador in its diplomatic row with Britain over the granting of asylum to Julian Assange and the perceived threat to the country's sovereignty.

Digital Journal recently reported that there would be a meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) on August 24, 2012, to discuss the matter of Julian Assange, his asylum and the U.K.'s threats on Ecuador's sovereignty.

Ecuador granted asylum to Assange on August 16, and a diplomatic uproar ensued, with the British Foreign Office threatening to enter the embassy to take Assange. The Ecuadorian government is taking this as a threat to their sovereignty and indeed, a threat to diplomatic relations worldwide, hence the meeting of the OAS was called... read more and watch video.

Venezuela: Amuay oil refinery blast kills 19 (video)

A large explosion at the Amuay oil refinery in Venezuela has killed 19 people and injured a further 53. The blast is thought to have been caused by a gas leak.

The Amuay refinery is the largest in Venezuela and is situated in the northwest Falcon province. Amuay is part of the Paraguana Refinery Complex, and together, the two refineries process around 900,000 barrels of crude a day and 200,000 barrels of gasoline... read more.

Arrested Marikana miners assaulted in jail by S.A. Police

More than 100 cases of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm on mine workers, arrested during the recent strike at the Lonmin mine, have been opened against the South African police in the last 48 hours.

Digital Journal reported on the strike by Marikana mine workers at the Lonmin Platinum mine near Rustenburg, South Africa. During the incident a shooting massacre killed 34 miners, with a total of 45 people dead and 78 wounded.

Almost 260 of the striking miners were arrested by the South African Police and are being held in custody in police stations around the Rustenburg area... read more.

Video: Woman & child step off platform & fall on subway tracks

CCTV cameras in the Boston-area subway caught the scene as a woman walks off the platform, falling on the tracks, holding her 4-year-old child. Commuters came to the rescue.

The CCTV footage is a handout from MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority), and shows the woman absent-mindedly stepping off the platform at the MIT/Kendall Square station in Cambridge, falling onto the tracks and narrowly missing the electrified third rail... read more.

Occupy Oakland rally in support of South African Miners (photos)

On Friday, August 24, Occupy Oakland was out in the streets, rallying in support of the striking Marikana miners, gunned down recently by South African police.

Digital Journal's contact at Occupy Oakland reports that a group of around 100 Occupy Oakland members turned out in Oscar Grant Plaza in downtown Oakland, CA on Friday, carrying banners and placards and handing out pamphlets to the public, about the recent shooting of striking miners at the Lonmin PLC Marikana platinum mine in South Africa... read more.