Daily Headlines: August 17, 2012

* Dominican Republic: Newly inaugurated president Danilo Medina vowed that he would enact policies aimed at lowering illiteracy rates and helping the millions of residents mired in poverty.

* Brazil: Attorneys for Chevron filed an appeal seeking to overturn a ban against operating in Brazil due to an offshore oil spill last year.

* Peru: According to the Peruvian military five troops were killed during a battle with Shining Path rebels.

* Cuba: Police reportedly detained three dissidents yesterday who were said to have been handing out leaflets critical of the government.

Video Source – YouTube via teleSUR English

Online Sources- BBC News, ABC News, Reuters, Miami Herald