Daily Headlines: April 27, 2015

* Brazil: Petrobras reported a $16.8 billion write-down and an approximately $8 billion loss in 2014 that wiped out profit made by the state-run oil company in its previous four years.

* Argentina: Visiting Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner signed numerous agreements with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as part of an “all encompassing strategic partnership” between both countries.

* Bolivia: Bolivia has reportedly become the country with the greatest number of dinosaur footprints with more than 10,000 of them found in the landlocked nation.

* Venezuela: Antonio Ledezma, the former Caracas mayor detained on charges of allegedly plotting a coup against President Nicolás Maduro, successfully underwent a hernia surgery yesterday.

YouTube Source – France 24 English

Online Sources – Fortune, Fox News Latino, MercoPress, Rappler

Daily Headlines: July 14, 2014

* Colombia: Colombian James Rodriguez became the third South American player since 1978 to win the Golden Boot Award as top scorer at the World Cup.

* Argentina: Visiting Russian president Vladimir Putin backed Argentina’s claim to the Falklands and also signed a nuclear energy cooperation pact with his counterpart, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
 
* Peru: Peruvian officials claimed that their country could double their copper production by 2016 and surpass China as the world’s second-largest producer of the metal.

* Brazil: The BRICS group of developing countries that includes Brazil will reportedly launch its own development bank that could curb the influence of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Video Source – Richard Swarbrick via YouTube
 
Online Sources – USA TODAY; euronews; The West Australian; mining.com

Pope Criticizes “Futile” Military Solution for Syria

Pope Francis called on the heads of sate meeting at today’s G-20 summit to seek a peaceful solution to the civil conflict in Syria.

“To the leaders present, to each and every one, I make a heartfelt appeal for them to help find ways to overcome the conflicting positions and to lay aside the futile pursuit of a military solution,” said the Argentine-born Francis in a letter sent to the G-20 host, Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Though the pontiff acknowledged that the G-20 summit is primarily concerned with economic issues, he urged the leaders of the twenty wealthiest countries to “reflect on the situation in the Model East and Syria.”

“Without peace, there can be no form of economic development. Violence never begets peace, the necessary condition for development,” said Francis who also observed “all governments have the moral duty to do everything possible to ensure humanitarian assistance to those suffering because of the conflict, both within and beyond the country’s borders”.

The pontiff added his criticism of "one-sided interests" in Syria that are preventing a diplomatic end to the violent situation in that country and have contributed to the "senseless massacre" of innocent civilians.

Earlier this week, the Pope announced he would lead a worldwide day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria on September 7th.

"With utmost firmness, I condemn the use of chemical weapons. I tell you that those terrible images from recent days are burned into my mind and heart," the pope said last Sunday in possible reference to Syria.

World Watch: Austerity or Not?

* Europe: Voters in countries like Greece and France are apparently disillusioned over the push for austerity while dozens of protesters were arrested during the presidential inauguration of Vladimir Putin.

* Malawi: Stores are reportedly running out of “staple foods such as sugar, cooking oil and bread” due to a consumer “panic” over the devaluation of the country’s currency.

* U.S.: Intelligence officials supposedly thwarted a plot by Al Qaeda's Yemen-based affiliate to destroy a U.S.-bound plane around the one-year anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden.

* Israel: The country's Supreme Court turned down an appeal for the release of two Palestinian prisoners who have been on a hunger strike for more than two months.

Video Source– YouTube via EUX TV

Online Sources – USA TODAY, CNN, BBC News, Huffington Post, Reuters

World Watch: Say Hi to the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

* Russia: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin may’ve won a landslide victory in presidential elections Sunday but he still faces strong opposition in the form of street protests.

* Congo: According to the local media at least 246 people died as a result of a series of explosions in arms depots at the capital city of Brazzaville.

* Syria: The U.N.’s Human Rights Office claimed to have video showing patients being tortured at a military hospital in the besieged city of Homs.

* U.S.: A Texas court convicted financier Allen Stanford for running a multibillion-dollar pyramid scheme.

Video Source– YouTube via Reuters

Online Sources – Voice of America, Associated Press, Reuters, ABC News

World Watch: Pump

* U.S.: The price of gasoline in the U.S. rose for the 24th straight day while the price of Brent crude oil fell 2 percent for the week after five consecutive weekly gains.

* Syria: "It is unacceptable that people who have been in need of emergency assistance for weeks have still not received any help," said the president of the Red Cross after the Syrian government refused medics entry into the besieged area of Baba Amr.

* North Korea: In the aftermath of North Korea’s recent denuclearization plans, meetings are expected to take place next week to finalize details of a new U.S. food aid program to the Asian country.

* Russia: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is expected to easily win Saturday’s presidential election in the first round by a comfortable margin according to several polls released this week.

Image Source– Flickr via futureatlas.com (CC BY 2.0)

Online Sources – Associated Press, Reuters, USA TODAY, CNN, Voice of America

World Watch: The Artist

* China: Wang Shu won the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in recognition of his designs including “modernist high-rise apartment buildings to a university library that appears to float on the water.”

* Syria: The E.U. placed new sanctions against the Syrian government and central bank, while dissident activists claimed that 135 people were killed across the country today.

* Russia: Authorities uncovered an alleged assassination plot against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin though opposition politicians claimed that it may be a false diversion to distract from mass protests.

* South Korea: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un blasted joint U.S.-South Korea military drills in the region and claimed that his country would be “ready to fight a war with them.”

Video Source– YouTube via Ecodialogue

Online Sources – CBC News, BusinessWeek, Voice of America, CNN, UPI

Weekend World Watch: Holiday Spirit

* Israel: Over 120,000 pilgrims and tourists are estimated to have gathered in Bethlehem in order to celebrate Christmas.

* Libya: For the first time since 1969 Libya will publicly celebrate its day of independence, which was sixty years ago on this date.

* Russia: Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in several Russian cities calling for new parliamentary elections and the resignation of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

* North Korea: Kim Jong Un was named as the "supreme leader of the revolutionary armed forces" days after the death of his father, former ruler Kim Jong Il.

* India: A court ordered that 22 Internet companies, including Google and Facebook, remove “objectionable content” from their websites.

* Nigeria: At least 68 people were killed as a result of clashes between police and “Islamic militant group Boko Haram.”

Video Source – YouTube via Al Jazeera English

Online Sources – Voice of America, BBC News, ABC Online, USA TODAY, PC World, The Guardian

Venezuela, Russia strengthened ties

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s visit to Venezuela has thus far boosted ties between both countries.

After returning from his trip to Caracas Putin said that he was considering selling $5 billion worth in arms to Venezuela. According to the Russian press orders will be placed at thirteen of the country’s leading defense firms and that previous weapons deals with Venezuela “have spurred positive effects.”

Though no new arms deals were signed during Putin’s stop in Venezuela, Reuters noted that “Venezuela has bought more than $4 billion worth of weapons from Russia, from Sukhoi jet fighters to Kalashnikov assault rifles.” Indeed, Putin personally delivered four military helicopters to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez on Friday.

In addition, Putin and Chavez signed a number of energy and trade pacts last week including expanding oil exploration right to the oil-rich Orinoco belt. Chavez noted that the increased cooperation with Russia doesn’t signify the creation of “an alliance against the United States". That didn’t stop a State Department spokesman from teasing about a rumored Venezuela-Russia space program:

"We would note that the government of Venezuela was largely closed this week due to energy shortages and to the extent that Venezuela is going to extend resources on behalf of its people, perhaps the focus should be more terrestrial than extraterrestrial."

Image- AFP
Online Sources- Xinhua, Washington Post, BBC News, UPI, AFP, Al Jazeera English

World Watch: Congo’s crisis

* Congo: According to humanitarian groups the situation in Congo is dire as combat between rebels and the army has led to widespread violence and nearly 900,000 displaced people.

* China: Six men were sentenced to death over their involvement in last July’s ethnic riots between Muslim Uighurs and members of the Han Chinese majority.

* Iraq: A study from the Iraqi government concluded that over 85,000 Iraqis were killed between 2004 and 2008.

* Russia: Legislators from three political parties walked out of parliament in protest against President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

Image- MSNBC (“Rwandan Hutu rebels stand watch outside a U.N. peacekeeping encampment in the heart of rebel territory, in the village of Kimua, eastern Congo, on Oct. 2.”)
Online Sources- CNN, Guardian UK, BBC News, Reuters

No bases in Americas says Russia's Putin

"Today there is no necessity for the construction of permanent military bases in Venezuela and Cuba," declared Russian prime minster Vladimir Putin earlier today. Putin did not rule out future military cooperation, however:

"There is no need to build permanent bases, although we have such agreements with the Venezuelan leadership. I do not think the Cuban leadership would object either. If necessary, we will be able to use these countries' ports to refuel and replenish supplies for our warships," Vladimir Putin said during a televised question-and-answer session.

Putin's remarks came as Russian president Dmitri Medvedev continued his tour of the Americas including stops in Venezuela and Cuba.

As we mentioned this morning, one of the Russian warships involved in military exercises with Venezuela will cross the Panama Canal tomorrow. In what could be described as a show-of-force, the Admiral Chabanenko destroyer will also stop by a Panamanian naval base that used to be the “hub for all U.S. naval activities in South America.”

Image- BBC News
Sources- The Latin Americanist, AP, Xinhua, RIA Novosti, Canadian Press, New York Times

Putin: LatAm "top" priority for Russia

As a Russian naval fleet makes its way to South America, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin vowed that he would make Latin America a “top foreign policy priority.” During a state visit of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to Moscow, Putin emphasized the importance of Latin America to the Russian government:

"Latin America is becoming a noticeable link in the chain of the multi-polar world that is forming," Putin said at his suburban residence at the start of his talks with Chavez. "We will pay more and more attention to this vector of our economic and foreign policy."

Chavez' visit to Russia was his second in two months; this time around, the Russians offered Chavez a $1 billion loan for the purchase of arms. (Venezuela has already spent over $4 billion buying Russian weapons according to the Kremlin). Both governments also signed an energy agreement that would allow for “an oil and gas consortium between (Venezuelan state-oil firm) PDVSA and (Russian gas giant) Gazprom.”

Chavez had previously visited China where he signed several energy deals with the government in Beijing. One of the agreements, for example, will allow for increased oil exports from Venezuelan to fuel the ever-growing Chinese economy.

Image- AFP

Sources- The Latin Americanist, Bloomberg, AP, IHT, The Telegraph, Times of India

Russian military return to Cuba?

Rumors of renewed ties between Russia and Cuba resurfaced today after news reports cited remarks allegedly made by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. “We need to reestablish positions on Cuba and in other countries,” news agency Interfax quoted Putin as saying during a meeting of government ministers.

Furthermore, a former senior official of Russia’s Defense Ministry's department told the local press that his country could possibly reestablish a military presence in Cuba:

"It is not a secret that the West is creating a 'buffer zone' around Russia, involving in the process countries in central Europe, the Caucasus, the Baltic states and Ukraine," said Leonid Ivashov, the former head of the Russian Defense Ministry's department for international cooperation, and currently president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems.

"In response, we may expand our military presence abroad, including in Cuba Ivashov said, commenting on the recent visit of Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin to Cuba on July 30-31…

"Cuba has convenient harbors which may host Russian reconnaissance and combat ships, and a network of forward landing airfields. With the Cuban leadership's consent and our own political will we may also consider resuming the work of an electronic listening post in Lourdes," the general said.

So far neither the Russian or Cuban governments have replied to Putin’s supposed statement though that didn’t stop a U.S. State Department spokesman from saying that “we don't see dealing with the Cuban government as particularly productive.”

Russian officials have expressed disdain at U.S. plans to create a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. Last October, Putin declared such a strategy as similar to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. However, he added that Russia and the U.S. were “not enemies anymore... we are partners.”

Image- UPI

Sources- AFP, RIA Novosti, Canadian Press, The Latin Americanist, Reuters, BBC News, earthtimes.org

Daily Headlines: December, 6, 2007

Note: Apologies for the late headlines today.

* The Police drummer Stewart Copeland to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet: sorry for calling you way uglier than Argentine president-elect Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

* Venezuela is not a nuclear threat despite closer ties to Iran, said the International Atomic Energy Agency’s chief.

* Is the murder of a Mexican police chief related to the recent discovery of a cross-border drug smuggling tunnel?

* Russian President Vladimir Putin was invited to attend the Mercosur economic bloc’s summit later this month.

* Follow-up: A judge approved a settlement in a custody dispute involving a five-year-old girl’s Cuban biological father and her U.S. foster family.

Sources- Reuters Canada, Houston Chronicle, The Latin Americanist, SignOnSanDiego.com, Associated Press, International Herald Tribune

Image- The Telegraph

Putin compares U.S. missile plan to Cuban missile crisis

Russian president Vladimir Putin compared a U.S. plan to create a missile defense system in Europe to the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. Said Putin at a press conference on Friday following a summit between the European Union and Russia:

"Analogous actions by the Soviet Union, when it deployed missiles in Cuba, prompted the 'Caribbean crisis,'" Putin said, using the Russian term for the Cuban missile crisis.

"For us the situation is technologically very similar. We have withdrawn the remains of our bases from Vietnam, from Cuba, and have liquidated everything there, while at our borders, such threats against our country are being created," he said.

Putin’s comments came two days after U.S. president George W. Bush spoke out on Cuban policy. In a speech at the State Department, Bush emphasized the urgency of supporting dissident movements and called on other countries to back democratic change on the island.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque replied to Bush’s speech by saying that it indicated his “personal hatred toward Cuba” and dismissed a domestic uprising on Cuba as a “fantasy”.

Image- BBC News

Sources- Associated Press, Sydney Morning Herald, Guardian UK