Global News Post: Americas

Opposition Demands Expert Evaluation of Chavez Health

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<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MEXICO</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (RIA Novosti) - Venezuelan
opposition politicians demanded the authorities to allow an expert evaluation
of whether President Hugo Chavez is fit for presidential duties, Mexican media
reported on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The opposition said official reports about
the health of the president, who underwent his fourth operation to remove
cancerous tissue in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region></st1:place>
on December 11, were vague.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Carlos Vecchio demanded the country’s
Supreme Court to set up a commission of doctors who would evaluate the
president’s health condition. He also said that a group of lawmakers should
visit <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region></st1:place>
for an unbiased report on Chavez’s health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“We are being told that the president calls
[Vice-President Nicolas] Maduro. However, after his previous surgeries in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> Chavez
always made direct calls to [Venezuelan state TV] VTV. He does not do it
anymore,” Vecchio said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Opposition leader Julio Borges added: “There
is no information, no desire to tell the truth to Venezuelans.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Chavez, 58, who has ruled <st1:country-region w:st="on">Venezuela</st1:country-region> for 13 years, underwent three
operations for cancer and four courses of chemotherapy in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Venezuela</st1:country-region></st1:place> within a year. He agreed
to the fourth surgery after recent tests had revealed malignant cells.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He is scheduled to be inaugurated to a new
six-year presidential term on January 10, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Opposition Demands Expert Evaluation of Chavez Health

MEXICO (RIA Novosti) - Venezuelan opposition politicians demanded the authorities to allow an expert evaluation of whether President H...

Are Violent Games Linked to Violent Crimes?

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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By Suzanne Presto<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As video game images become increasingly
more realistic and graphic, policy makers are debating if there is a link
between the violence depicted in those games and violence in real life.   <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A 20-year-old gunman's shooting spree at a
school in the northeastern <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United
  States</st1:place></st1:country-region> this month has reinvigorated
discussions about violence, prompting lawmakers to call for greater examination
of brutality in video games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">But evidence does not suggest violence in
games causes violence in life, says Virginia Tech's James Ivory, a professor in
the university's department of communication who researches the effects of
video games.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"The agreement is pretty well universal
among social scientists that there is not a clearly established link between
actual violent crime and violent media usage," says Ivory.  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He adds that it is possible, though debated,
that exposure to violent video games could make a person think or respond more
aggressively in the short term, or, in Ivory's words, "might even make you
potentially more of a jerk to somebody." 
But, he emphasizes, temporary aggression and violent crime are worlds
apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Graphic games are popular.  Eight of the 20 best-selling video games in
2011 contained intense violence, language or sexual content deemed suitable
only for players 17 and older.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Criminal defense attorney Rene Sandler says
she has represented clients who played violent shooter games, gaining points
with each kill.   <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">    <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"Violent video games are an enormous
problem in this country, and violent video games have been at the core of
violent behaviors after watching these video games or cumulatively playing
games," Sandler says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Video games differ from movies or other
media because game players are active participants, not passive viewers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"People have argued that violent video
games should influence you more because you're taking on the role of someone
violent," explains Ivory. 
"Conceptually that all makes sense, but empirically, there's not a
lot of evidence for stronger effects of games than television."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Players don't confuse games with reality, a
high school student and gamer told VOA.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"I'm not saying it's right, but it's
just virtual people," he said. 
"It's not real people.  It
doesn't have any intentions of killing anyone in the real world."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Wayne LaPierre, head of the National Rifle
Association, disagrees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"There exists in this country, sadly, a
callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells and sows violence
against its own people, through vicious, violent video games," LaPierre
told reporters this month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He named the popular game 'Grand Theft Auto'
as an example.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">One of the creators of 'Grand Theft Auto,'
Navid Khonsari, says he grew up playing video games in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>
and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
where video games were enjoyed by people of all ages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The discerning factor among the countries,
says Khonsari, "is that while video games have been readily available,
what has been limited is the accessibility to weapons."  <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The focus on virtual violence might be
limiting substantive discussions about firearm regulations and mental health
treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"When we talk about violent video games
and actual violent crime, we're chasing something that hasn't really been
observed and we're not talking about other things that have been
observed," says Ivory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Despite the renewed focus on video game
violence, investigators of the most recent <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> school shooting have not said
whether the young gunman was a player of violent video games.    <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Interest in video games continues to grow
around the globe.  Analysts estimate
people spent about $70 billion worldwide on video games and components in
2012.  North America, Western Europe and
East Asia remain key markets, while gaming is on the rise in <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Brazil</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Russia</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on">Southeast
 Asia</st1:place>. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Are Violent Games Linked to Violent Crimes?

By Suzanne Presto As video game images become increasingly more realistic and graphic, policy makers are debating if there i...

High Tourist Season Opens in Cuba

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">NNN---
San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba, is a 17th century fortress which
is considered the best preserved and most complete example of Spanish-American
military architecture, about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of the city centre.
These significant places are in UNESCO World Heritage List. With the high
tourist season opening in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
visitors are unlikely to give these places of historical interest a skip. More
than one million visitors are expected to converge at the central <st1:placename w:st="on">Varadero</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Tourist</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype>, following an intense
international campaign promoting the island as a tourist destination for
vacationers in Europe, Asia and <st1:place w:st="on">Latin America</st1:place>.
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>
earned over 1.7 billion dollars in terms of different tourist offers, a figure
well over the previous year, according to the National Statistics and
Information Office. From January to September this year, the island received
two million 170 thousand 067 visitors, which stands for a 5.1 increase with
respect to same period of 2011. Photo courtesy wikipedia---NNN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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High Tourist Season Opens in Cuba

NNN--- San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Santiago de Cuba, is a 17th century fortress which is considered the best preserved and most co...

UN Secretary-General Offers Condolences in Wake of Death and Damage Caused by Hurricane Sandy

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;">A woman walks through a
flooded market in<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Port au Prince. Photo: <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Logan</st1:place></st1:city> Abassi/MINUSTAH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">UN
News – Pledging the full support of the United Nations in rebuilding efforts, Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon offers his condolences to the millions of people who have been
severely affected by Hurricane Sandy – above all those who lost loved ones or
their homes across a wide arc of destruction encompassing the United States and
the Caribbean region, his spokesperson said today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
Secretary-General has written to President Obama, and has spoken to the
Presidents of Haiti and the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Dominican Republic</st1:country-region>
and Mayor Bloomberg of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York City</st1:place></st1:city>,
to express his solidarity at this time of crisis and to pledge the assistance
of the United Nations, if requested, in the recovery effort,” the spokesperson
said in a note to the media.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“He
also intends to speak with other Caribbean leaders and with the Governors of <st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state> and <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New
  Jersey</st1:place></st1:state>,” the spokesperson added. “The Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has mobilized to provide maximum
possible assistance.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Described
in some media reports as a “once in a generation” storm, Hurricane Sandy has
reportedly killed more than 120 people, and caused billions of dollars in
damage, in addition to crippling New York City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Earlier
today, an OCHA official said that over a million people in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Haiti</st1:country-region> are facing food insecurity as a result of
the hurricane, which ploughed through the Caribbean nation before wreaking
havoc along the east coast of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region> earlier this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Hurricane
<st1:city w:st="on">Sandy</st1:city>’s arrival, and its effects, in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York City</st1:place></st1:city>, where the
United Nations is headquartered, led to the world body’s offices being closed
for an unprecedented three days straight, with most meetings cancelled, before
re-opening today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
UN complex also sustained damage due to high wind and flooding, which affected
communications and other infrastructure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Despite
disruptions, all essential operations went ahead, including a meeting of the
Security Council, and contacts with peacekeeping and other missions around the
world were maintained without interruption,” the spokesperson noted, adding
that UN Headquarters is expected to be back at full capacity “shortly.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“The
Secretary-General notes that when the host country is hit by a natural disaster,
the UN family suffers as well. Like our neighbours in the metropolitan area, UN
staff members have been affected in various ways by the storm,” the
spokesperson stated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He
further highlighted the Secretary-General’s thanks to UN staff for pressing ahead
with their work even as they tend to their families' needs, and the UN chief’s
encouragement of staff to contribute to relief efforts by volunteering or
making financial donations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“At
this time of crisis, the Secretary-General’s thoughts and prayers are with all
those in need. He pledges the full support of the United Nations in rebuilding
today, strengthening global disaster risk reduction, and preparing the world
for a safer tomorrow,” the spokesperson said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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UN Secretary-General Offers Condolences in Wake of Death and Damage Caused by Hurricane Sandy

A woman walks through a flooded market in Port au Prince. Photo: Logan Abassi/MINUSTAH UN News – Pledging the full suppo...

Obama, Romney Tangle over China's Trade Practices

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">U.S.
President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney used a foreign
policy debate Monday in <st1:state w:st="on">Florida</st1:state> to get tough
on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">China</st1:country></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President
Obama described <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country>
as an "adversary" but said he looked forward to partnering with the
rising Asian power as long as it follows international trade rules.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"<st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country>'s an
adversary, and also a potential partner in the international community if it's
following the rules," said Obama. "So my attitude coming into office
was that we are going to insist that <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country> plays by the same rules as
everybody else."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Obama
said his administration has brought more trade violation cases against <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country> than the
previous administration did in two terms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Romney,
who has used harsh rhetoric on China throughout the campaign, said Beijing "doesn't
have to be an adversary," but warned that it cannot "roll all over us
and steal our jobs."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">"I've
watched year in and year out as companies have shut down and people have lost
their jobs because <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country>
has not played by the same rules, in part by holding down artificially the
value of their currency," said romney. "It holds down the prices of
their goods. It means our goods aren't as competitive and we lose jobs. That's
got to end."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Romney
repeated his promise to label <st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country>
a currency manipulator on his first day in office, a designation that would
allow for steeper tariffs on Chinese goods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">During
the 15-minute segment set aside for discussing "The Rise of China and
Tomorrow's World," neither candidate mentioned <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country -region="-region" w:st="on">China</st1:country></st1:place>'s human rights situation, intensifying
maritime disputes, or upcoming leadership transition. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>

Obama, Romney Tangle over China's Trade Practices

U.S. President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney used a foreign policy debate Monday in Florida to get tough o...

Rise in Argentina’s Maize Exports to Ease Pressure in International Food Markets – UN

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYND4hRkKxolvsB99V83iIdHiqcx8NzXqqjroHeyhI1cxg9AXOuNhW6MTfWBiVSVbKAMYGfGy4VSQjqDjd_yoW6YSlSJIL7iAyfrzpzSfCvr2wsUo_SIgXQD1vG0I6VsOUn0rurFWwz8/s1600/09-14-2012yauhar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYND4hRkKxolvsB99V83iIdHiqcx8NzXqqjroHeyhI1cxg9AXOuNhW6MTfWBiVSVbKAMYGfGy4VSQjqDjd_yoW6YSlSJIL7iAyfrzpzSfCvr2wsUo_SIgXQD1vG0I6VsOUn0rurFWwz8/s320/09-14-2012yauhar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva (left) with <o:p></o:p></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Norberto Yauhar, Minister of Agriculture, Argentina.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-language: HI; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Photo: FAO/Alessia Pierdomenico</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">UN News – Argentina’s announcement that it would export an additional 2.75 million tonnes of maize this year will help ease tight international markets, the United Nations food agency said today, adding that while this is a welcome measure, countries must remain vigilante to avoid a global food crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the announcement was made by Argentina’s Minister of Agriculture, Norberto Yauhar, who had just met with FAO’s Director-General, José Graziano da Silva, at the UN agency’s headquarters in Rome, Italy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“This goes to show that there is no threat of a global food crisis at present, although we must continue to be vigilant and monitor the situation closely,” Mr. Graziano da Silva said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Argentina is the world’s second biggest exporter of maize, and was responsible roughly for 15 per cent of the world’s maize exports in the last three years. The increase will bring the amount of maize from the 2011-2012 harvest to a total of 16.45 million tonnes, FAO stated in a news release.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This summer’s drought in the United States – the worst in over 50 years – fuelled fears of a food crisis when the FAO Food Price Index, which measures the prices of 55 food commodities, including meat, dairy, sugar, and cereals, surged by six per cent in July. However, food prices have remained steady in the past month.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During their meeting, Mr. Yauhar and Mr. Graziano da Silva noted that the world is now better placed to cope with higher food prices than during the crisis of 2007-2008, partly because of mechanisms likes the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), which contributes to increasing market transparency and reducing price volatility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mechanisms like AMIS, which was established in 2011 by the Group of 20 (G20) leading economies, make it possible for countries to coordinate action and respond faster to volatile food price situations, Mr. Graziano da Silva said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The two men noted that there was better coordination within the UN system to address food security issues and stressed that it was important for countries to work together through international mechanisms rather than taking unilateral action, according to FAO. They also underlined that financial markets and trade should be regulated to avoid speculation on prices, which contribute to their volatility.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mr. Graziano da Silva also emphasized the need for the international donor community to increase its immediate and long-term support to poor countries, which are significantly affected by changes in the prices of the food basket.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) – which provides food relief in humanitarian emergencies such as war and natural disasters – every 10 per cent increase in the price of its food basket means finding an additional $200 million a year to buy the same amount of food.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Rise in Argentina’s Maize Exports to Ease Pressure in International Food Markets – UN

FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva (left) with Norberto Yauhar, Minister of Agriculture, Argentina. Photo: FAO/Alessia Pierdome...

World’s Rarest Snake Found in St. Lucia

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz35OQGutot3QWj791nmv2v7RG-Dv2SGXxIP6KmmCheHyCIzRhhJGse7mgcklHtuo7hyOAi5zhIsbrnd1vTanE5YOuSYaSk3AiXVr4AL4UJ13VxNcfR0sWoh2lYelBp36EBXtZcZlA7hI/s1600/2012071117173977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz35OQGutot3QWj791nmv2v7RG-Dv2SGXxIP6KmmCheHyCIzRhhJGse7mgcklHtuo7hyOAi5zhIsbrnd1vTanE5YOuSYaSk3AiXVr4AL4UJ13VxNcfR0sWoh2lYelBp36EBXtZcZlA7hI/s1600/2012071117173977.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Saint Lucia racer (photo), one of four endemic snakes in the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia, declared extinct in 1936, has been found by conservationists during a five month search on the rocky, steep-sided islet just 12 ha in size. Sightings of the racer, a small non-venomous snake, have been rare, leading to fears that these harmless snakes may have been lost forever following the introduction of predatory mongooses from India in the late 19th century. The study revealed as few as 18 of the world’s rarest snakes remain in the now mongoose-free islet.Photo courtesy phys.org---NNN<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div></div>

World’s Rarest Snake Found in St. Lucia

The Saint Lucia racer (photo), one of four endemic snakes in the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia, declared extinct in 1936, has been found...

America Celebrates Independence Day

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">From the far reaches of Alaska to the Gulf coast, Americans on Wednesday are celebrating the 236th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the formal announcement of America's end as a British colony.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tens of millions of small-town Americans and city dwellers alike will line parade routes, watch fireworks, attend picnics, concerts and family gatherings. In Washington, hundreds of thousands of spectators will pack the National Mall for a nationally televised concert and a massive display of fireworks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U.S. President Barack Obama will host the White House's fourth annual salute to the military, with a barbecue, games and a concert by the presidential Marine Band.  Additionally, Obama's daughter Malia turns 14 on Wednesday, but it is not known whether s</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">he will celebrate at these festivities.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fireworks also will light the night skies over hallowed battlefields from the War of 1812 and America's 19th century Civil War. Similar festivities are slated for Philadelphia - the nation's first capital - Annapolis, Maryland, and New York City.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Drafted by Thomas Jefferson in June 1776, the Declaration of Independence is America's most cherished symbol of freedom. The Continental Congress formally approved the document weeks later on July 4.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The recent natural disasters across much of the United States have left many Americans in a less than celebratory mood. More than one million people are still without power after a violent storm known as a derecho struck the midwestern and eastern U.S. last Friday, killing at least 23 people. Utility crews are scrambling across the region to restore power and give residents a relief from temperatures that have soared above 40 degrees (Celsius).  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Obama has declared West Virginia and Ohio as federal disaster areas.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Residents in many parts of the western U.S. are still trying to cope with a series of massive wildfires that has destroyed hundreds of homes and forced tens of thousands of residents to flee.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The disasters have forced many local governments to cancel fireworks displays, either because of efforts to restore power on the East Coast or the threat of more fires in the dry western U.S.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

America Celebrates Independence Day

By VOA News From the far reaches of Alaska to the Gulf coast, Americans on Wednesday are celebrating the 236th anniversary of the Declara...

Brazil's Rio De Janeiro Now A World Heritage Site

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8UiM1UveEFlgDgN1Yl8TmTQaIHuYAxu_3Fe0-phKMy4MC_BH81jKgxRuK2IndR2k_Kke4_nv1v7LtW2aEQmRYU6eRfXlJa4Z2GjxujkwiWmIR18p7vycpcQHKveGrRoPMU4fMmpBCZ0/s1600/2012070216312288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8UiM1UveEFlgDgN1Yl8TmTQaIHuYAxu_3Fe0-phKMy4MC_BH81jKgxRuK2IndR2k_Kke4_nv1v7LtW2aEQmRYU6eRfXlJa4Z2GjxujkwiWmIR18p7vycpcQHKveGrRoPMU4fMmpBCZ0/s1600/2012070216312288.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A ship navigates through Guanabara Bay next to the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro on 1 July 2012. Rio De Janeiro's iconic landscape, marked by soaring granite facades that drop into the ocean and white-sand beaches that go on for miles, is now an official UNESCO world heritage site. UNESCO gave Rio the title in recognition of the unique way its exuberant natural setting blends with the urban landscape, local media reported. Photo courtesy Agencies ---NNN<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Brazil's Rio De Janeiro Now A World Heritage Site

A ship navigates through Guanabara Bay next to the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro on 1 July 2012. Rio De Janeiro's iconi...

Peoples of America March in Cartagena De Indias

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CARTAGENA DE INDIAS (NNN-Prensa Latina): The Fifth Peoples Summit concluded Saturday with a march in this Caribbean city, where the Sixth Summit of the Americas was taking place.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The attendees to the alternative and independent Forum toured several streets of the beach resort city but could not reach its historic center, because of the highly militarized and under tight security measures.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Towards the outskirts of the city center, Prensa Latina found, on a tour, the presence of military, police and riot squads heavily provided with arms and positioned in different places.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Likewise, many of the streets were completely closed, which prevented the passage of both vehicles and pedestrians.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, those attending the Summit of the People marched peacefully to raise the real voice of America, as confirmed by the organizers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While the official summit was immersed in several dilemmas, the alternative forum not only welcomed Cuba as a special guest and a representative delegation, but also expressed solidarity with the island for having been excluded from the Sixth Summit of the Americas.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">During the development of discussions at the Summit of the People was invited Mario de la Ossa, representative of the social and farmers movements in the Caribbean country.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">De la Ossa denounced the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States against his country for over half a century and described in detail the social, political and economic reality of the island.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He also indicated the willingness of the Cuban people to contribute to a real and effective continental integration, but without Washington's interference.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The V Summit of the Peoples called for unity of the continent to articulate civil resistance and social demands of the region. -NNN-PRENSA LATINA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Peoples of America March in Cartagena De Indias

CARTAGENA DE INDIAS (NNN-Prensa Latina): The Fifth Peoples Summit concluded Saturday with a march in this Caribbean city, where the Sixth ...

US, Brazil Affirm Strong Economic Ties

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The U.S. and Brazilian leaders have affirmed their countries' strong economic ties, raising the prospect of more American investment in Brazil as it prepares to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">President Barack Obama and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff met at the White House Monday. President Obama, who visited Brazil last year, said the relationship between the two countries “has never been stronger.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Of course, we still have more work to do. We are consulting around the Summit of the Americas meeting this weekend to make sure that we are coordinating closely on issues of great importance like expanding educational exchanges, improving the cooperation between our countries on clean energy, dealing with issues like narco-trafficking and citizen security issues that are so important to the region.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ms. Rousseff, in brief comments, also hailed the ties.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The U.S.-Brazil bilateral relations are for Brazil a very important relationship — not only from a bilateral, but also from a multi-lateral perspective.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She also said she raised concerns with Mr. Obama about the effect of expansionary monetary policies of richer countries on developing countries like Brazil. She said she is worried that they are leading to the devaluation of the Brazilian currency.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Obama did not address the monetary issue in his remarks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Trade between the U.S. and Brazil reached a record $74 billion last year. Ms. Rousseff emphasized to the American leader the need for improved infrastructure in her country as it prepares the stage for the world's pre-eminent athletic events.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The two leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to advancing trade in services and manufactured goods and removing barriers to the shipment of agricultural products.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Obama and Ms. Rousseff also discussed their shared interest in promoting regional compacts to advance educational, travel and technology contacts between Americans and Brazilians.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The visit is Ms. Rousseff's first trip to the United States as Brazil's leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ms. Rousseff, who is traveling with a delegation of ministers, also attended a one-day binational forum at the Chamber of Commerce in Washington.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the opening of the forum, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the U.S. will open two new consulates in Brazil. She also announced that she and Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota would sign the U.S.-Brazil Aviation Partnership Memorandum, to promote increased business travel, tourism and exchanges, and safer air travel between the countries. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

US, Brazil Affirm Strong Economic Ties

The U.S. and Brazilian leaders have affirmed their countries' strong economic ties, raising the prospect of more American investment ...

Fidel Castro Says Action against Protesters in Major Cities "Barbaric"

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">HAVANA (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) - The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro described as barbaric the police repression against protesters in major cities in the United States and Europe. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">They show "to the world the coward actions that are committed against the rights and the lives of the citizens of their own countries," Fidel Castro said in his latest reflection "The Wonderful World of Capitalism." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"The most important cities in the United States and Europe are the theatre of continued pitched battles between demonstrators and a well-trained and well-fed police, equipped with armoured cars and helmets, beating and kicking and throwing gases against women and men, twisting the hands and the necks of people, young and old," the revolutionary leader wrote. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"How much longer these barbaric acts would last?" wondered Fidel Castro, adding that "these tragedies will continue to be seen, more and more, on television and in the entire press; they will be like the daily bread that is denied to those who have less." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">After recalling some details of the discovery of the energy contained in the atom, developed by the United States after his discoverer delivered it, the leader of the Revolution noted that "that State imposes on the world the most brutal and dangerous tyranny ever known to our fragile species." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"The search for the political truth will always be a difficult task even in our times, when science has placed in our hands a huge amount of knowledge," he noted. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"One of the most important was the possibility to know and study the fabulous power of the energy contained in matter," added the revolutionary leader. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">In another part of his reflection, Fidel Castro said the possibilities provided by an electronic shop in London, which will sell one-million-dollars and an individual submarine or a submarine for two persons. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"Maybe it is our fault that not every citizen has its own private submarine at the beach, Fidel Castro noted. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"It was them (the media), not me, who mixed up the Arab sheiks and the executives of the big transnationals with the soccer players. The latter, at least, entertain millions of persons and are not enemies of Cuba; I should state that very clearly," Fidel Castro wrote.  --NNN-PRENSA LATINA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Fidel Castro Says Action against Protesters in Major Cities "Barbaric"

HAVANA (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) - The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro described as barbaric the police repression against proteste...

Fidel Castro Says Action against Protesters in Major Cities "Barbaric"

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HAVANA (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) - The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro described as barbaric the police repression against protesters in major cities in the United States and Europe. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They show "to the world the coward actions that are committed against the rights and the lives of the citizens of their own countries," Fidel Castro said in his latest reflection "The Wonderful World of Capitalism." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"The most important cities in the United States and Europe are the theatre of continued pitched battles between demonstrators and a well-trained and well-fed police, equipped with armoured cars and helmets, beating and kicking and throwing gases against women and men, twisting the hands and the necks of people, young and old," the revolutionary leader wrote. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"How much longer these barbaric acts would last?" wondered Fidel Castro, adding that "these tragedies will continue to be seen, more and more, on television and in the entire press; they will be like the daily bread that is denied to those who have less." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After recalling some details of the discovery of the energy contained in the atom, developed by the United States after his discoverer delivered it, the leader of the Revolution noted that "that State imposes on the world the most brutal and dangerous tyranny ever known to our fragile species." <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"The search for the political truth will always be a difficult task even in our times, when science has placed in our hands a huge amount of knowledge," he noted. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"One of the most important was the possibility to know and study the fabulous power of the energy contained in matter," added the revolutionary leader. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In another part of his reflection, Fidel Castro said the possibilities provided by an electronic shop in London, which will sell one-million-dollars and an individual submarine or a submarine for two persons. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"Maybe it is our fault that not every citizen has its own private submarine at the beach, Fidel Castro noted. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">"It was them (the media), not me, who mixed up the Arab sheiks and the executives of the big transnationals with the soccer players. The latter, at least, entertain millions of persons and are not enemies of Cuba; I should state that very clearly," Fidel Castro wrote. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--NNN-PRENSA LATINA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Fidel Castro Says Action against Protesters in Major Cities "Barbaric"

HAVANA (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) - The leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro described as barbaric the police repression against proteste...

Summit of the Americas in April Will Discuss Falklands Issue

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">BOGOTA (NNN-MERCOPRESS) - The British-Argentina-Falklands-Malvinas dispute is among the list of topics to be discussed at the coming VI Summit of the Americas, Colombian Foreign Affairs Minister Maria Angela Holguin said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During a meeting with foreign correspondents here, Ms Holguin confirmed that the summit which takes place April 13 to15 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia and to which have been invited the leaders of the region’s 34 countries, will accept the petition from Ecuador to debate the South Atlantic Islands dispute currently under British sovereignty.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">However any declaration or statement on the issue “won’t go further than what has been said in the framework of the Organization of American States (OAS)”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Holguin said that the 34 leaders or their representatives will support “Argentina’s sovereignty pretension over the Falklands-Malvinas”. Furthermore the leaders in Cartagena will call for a dialogue on the issue “and prop Britain to accept and sit to discuss”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Colombian host said that some countries such is the case of Ecuador would not let the opportunity by and will speak extensively about the Falklands-Malvinas, “even when there has been no forma request from Argentina”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Any petition on the Falklands-Malvinas will most certainly make an issue, unanimous and that is calling to avoid the military presence in the South Atlantic, she said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">U.S president Barack Obama has confirmed his presence so has Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, which will not be expected to support the Argentine sovereignty claim over the Falklands, among other things because Ottawa’s head of state is Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The government of President Cristina Fernandez has been involved in a diplomatic offensive to collect support for Argentina’s claim over the Falklands-Malvinas ahead of the April 2 30th anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the Islands in 1982. -- NNN-MERCOPRESS<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Summit of the Americas in April Will Discuss Falklands Issue

BOGOTA (NNN-MERCOPRESS) - The British-Argentina-Falklands-Malvinas dispute is among the list of topics to be discussed at the coming VI Sum...

Peru Vows to Break Drug Trafficking-Terrorism Alliance

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">LIMA (NNN-ANDINA): The alliance between drug trafficking and terrorism will be broken by the State which seeks to pacify the remote valley of the Apurimac and Ene rivers (VRAE), said Peru's Defense Minister Alberto Otarola.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He recalled that President Ollanta Humala Tasso has made the promise of freeing the communities in the Huallaga and VRAE areas from terror, "and we have already accomplished the first part of this commitment with the capture of terrorist leader Artemio".<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The terrorist, who led the remnants of the Shining Path in the northeastern region of San Martin, was arrested last month and faces charges of terrorism and drug trafficking that could land him a life sentence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Otarola said that the project used in the Alto Huallaga area will also be implemented in the VRAE, a wild Amazon area in the country's central jungle, where the subordinates of terrorist leader "Jose" operate in alliance with drug traffickers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span dir="LTR"></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span dir="LTR"></span>"We are absolutely sure that areas such as the VRAE, after so many years, deserve peace, just like what we recently achieved in the Huallaga," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">To that goal, he said the state's presence will be strengthened in the VRAE to achieve concrete results through the promotion and dissemination of social programs such as Beca 18, Pensión 65, among others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">He stressed that the problem of narco-terrorism will not be solved through military action alone but requires a comprehensive approach. -NNN-ANDINA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Peru Vows to Break Drug Trafficking-Terrorism Alliance

LIMA (NNN-ANDINA): The alliance between drug trafficking and terrorism will be broken by the State which seeks to pacify the remote valley...

Britain Says Argentine Claims Of Militarisation in Falklands Unfounded

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">UNITED NATIONS (NNN-MERCOPRESS) - Argentine claims that Britain is ‘militarising’ the South Atlantic and the Falklands are ‘unfounded’ and ‘baseless’.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Thisis according to a letter from British ambassador Mark Lyall-Grant addressed to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">“Argentine claims of militarisation of the South Atlantic by the UK are unfounded and baseless” writes the British diplomat in his letter to Ban Ki-moon, a copy of which has been revealed by the Spanish news agency - EFE.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">In the five pages letter dated Feb 22, Lyall-Grant states that the British government “has no doubts about its sovereignty over the Falkland, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, as of the adjoining maritime spaces”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Argentina claims the Malvinas arguing they were ousted from the Islands in 1833 by the British. Almost 150 years later, in 1982 the Argentine military Junta invaded the Falklands and occupied them for 74 days until the surrender to a Task Force sent by the British government to recover the Islands.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">In the letter Lyall-Grant indicates that the principle of self determination enshrined in the UN chart supports the British position regarding the sovereignty over the Islands that “will continue to be British” and underlines “there will be no sovereignty negotiations until the people of the Falklands so decide it”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Buenos Aires-London tension has escalated since the Argentine government protested to the UN what it describes as the “militarisation” of the South Atlantic by Britain, based on London sending to the Falklands its most modern destroyer, HMS Dauntless, and Prince William, heir of the British throne, currently based in the Islands as part of his training as a Search and Rescue helicopter pilot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">However, the British government argues that the military presence in the Falklands was ‘minimum’ until the Argentine invasion of the Islands thirty years ago and was only increased following the conflict given the “continuous and direct threat from Argentina to the Islands and its inhabitants”.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Ambassador Lyall-Grant requests Ban Ki-moon to distribute the letter in the UN General Assembly and sternly denies that Britain intends air and maritime control of the South Atlantic and at the same time accuses Argentina of trying to do precisely that with the implementation of presidential decree 256.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Britain also denies having introduced nuclear weapons to the area as the Argentine government claims and reiterates that Britain will not use or threaten with nuclear weapons signatory States with no nuclear armament, in abidance with the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">“Since Nestor Kirchner and later Cristina Kirchner took office, Argentina has withdrawn from bilateral discussions including the bilateral military programmes in 2008”, points out the letter adding that British last diplomatic dialogue offer was extended to Buenos Aires in 2010, but Argentina ‘did not reply’.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Lyall-Grant adds that Britain believes there are many cooperation opportunities in the South Atlantic in spite of the fact that Argentina dropped out from the South Atlantic Joint Fisheries Committee and has deliberately extended the fishing seasons in those waters.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';">Finally <st1:country-region w:st="on">Argentina</st1:country-region> has also rejected the joint declaration on hydrocarbons for cooperation in energy resources, besides having banned since 2003 all charter flights to the Falklands that must cross through Argentine air space and has passed laws penalising companies making business in the <st1:place w:st="on">Falklands</st1:place>, among other measures which can only be described of great concern. -- NNN-MERCOPRESS<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Britain Says Argentine Claims Of Militarisation in Falklands Unfounded

UNITED NATIONS (NNN-MERCOPRESS) - Argentine claims that Britain is ‘militarising’ the South Atlantic and the Falklands are ‘unfounded’ and ...

José Marti- The Cuban Poet and Revolutionary

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">By <a href="http://www.groundreport.com/Dulcinea"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Finding Dulcinea</span></a>  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Written by <a href="http://www.findingdulcinea.com/employees/editorial/sarah-amandolare.html"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Sarah Amandolare</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">  <a href="http://www.groundreport.com/includes/ajax/image_popup.php?image=2943889&image_id=1"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Jose Marti (Patricio Bridges- Creative Commons)</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">GroundReport- </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">For<span style="background: white;"> most of his life, José Marti moved from place to place, collecting the experiences and knowledge that would influence his work as a writer, revolutionary and educator. He was passionate in every undertaking, whether organizing the Cuban independence movement, fiercely objecting dictatorships and government abuses in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Guatemala</st1:place></st1:country-region>, or studying philosophy and law. His devotion to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s freedom and his own free spirit resulted in a lifetime of intriguing achievements.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Early Days<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Born in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Havana</st1:city>,  <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region></st1:place>, on Jan. 28, 1853, José Marti had his first foray into political activism at age 15, helping to set up an anti-colonial newspaper that led to his arrest within a year. Spanish authorities convicted Marti of anti-government activity, and handed him a six-year sentence of “hard labor in a quarry,” reports The My Hero Project. He served just three years, however, before being deported to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Spain</st1:place></st1:country-region>. There, Marti entered the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype>  of <st1:placename w:st="on">Zaragoza</st1:placename></st1:place> to study law. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In the years following his graduation from university, Marti’s rebellious, revolutionary ways were revealed. He was banished from <st1:city w:st="on">Mexico City</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Guatemala</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Venezuela</st1:place></st1:country-region> for opposing military leadership, government abuses, colonialist authorities and dictatorship. But along the way, he honed his philosophical standpoints, working as a journalist and literature professor, and spending some time in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>, according to The My Hero Project.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Notable Accomplishments<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Throughout his life, Marti never lost sight of his ultimate passion: promoting Cuban independence. In doing so, he would take on various roles, including teacher, diplomat and poet. His first poetry volume, “Versos Libres” (Free Verses), was published in 1878. More than a decade later, Marti’s “Versos Sencillos” was published, the first poem of which became his most notable work and “an unofficial national anthem for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>,” according to Bella Online. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Although he was killed in 1895 during the Battle of Dos Rios in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region>’s war for independence from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>, Marti was “remembered as a national hero as well as <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s unofficial national poet.” <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region> was eventually successful in the war, as well, says Bella Online. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Marti is also praised for his varied interests and his ability “to move comfortably in the most diverse fields,” according to the Free Cuba Foundation. His writings reflect that worldliness and display “the universality and timelessness of his thought,” supreme among them that <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region>’s freedom was crucial to the well-being of <st1:place w:st="on">Latin America</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

José Marti- The Cuban Poet and Revolutionary

By Finding Dulcinea Written by Sarah Amandolare Jose Marti (Patricio Bridges- Creative Commons) GroundReport- For most of his...

Ahmadinejad Lands in Cuba

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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (right) responds to a cheering crowd from the balcony of the Carondelet presidential palace in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Quito</st1:place></st1:city> Jan. 12, 2012 by showing a double-V sign, watched on by his Ecuadorian counterpart, Rafael Correa. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ecuador</st1:country-region> was the final leg of Ahmadinejad’s five-day tour of four Latin American countries, which included <st1:country-region w:st="on">Venezuela</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Nicaragua</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Ahmadinejad began his Latin America trip shortly after <st1:state w:st="on">Washington</st1:state> imposed tougher sanctions on <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tehran</st1:place></st1:city> over the nuclear programme. Photo courtesy agencies--- NNN Photo<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cuba</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the latest stop on his Latin American tour. Ahmadinejad landed in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Havana</st1:place></st1:city> Wednesday, where he was greeted by Cuban Vice President Esteban Lazo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Iranian leader is expected to meet with Cuban President Raul Castro as well as with Fidel Castro during the brief, one-day stop. He is also expected to give a speech at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Havana</st1:placename></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Cuba</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">'s state-run media reported Ahmadinejad made a "V" for victory sign with his fingers as he greeted officials.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Iranian leader's visit comes as international pressure is mounting on <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tehran</st1:place></st1:city> over its nuclear program. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iran</st1:country-region> is facing growing sanctions over the program and tensions rose further Wednesday after a scientist who worked on <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s nuclear program was killed in a bombing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Iranian officials have blamed the attack on <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">President Ahmadinejad's visit to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region> is part of a four-nation Latin America tour that has already taken him to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Venezuela</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nicaragua</st1:place></st1:country-region>, where he attended the inauguration of President Daniel Ortega. After <st1:country-region w:st="on">Cuba</st1:country-region>, Ahmadinejad heads to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ecuador</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In recent years, the Iranian president has courted leftist, populist and anti-American Latin American leaders, particularly Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">U.S.</span></st1:country-region><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> officials have urged Latin American countries not to deepen their ties with <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The <st1:country-region w:st="on">U.S.</st1:country-region> has called the tour a sign of desperation for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Iran</st1:place></st1:country-region>, which has been heavily sanctioned over its nuclear program.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">A U.S. State Department spokeswoman accused the Iranian government of being "desperate for friends" and of what she called "flailing around" to find new allies.<span class="apple-style-span"> ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div>

Ahmadinejad Lands in Cuba

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (right) responds to a cheering crowd from the balcony of the Carondelet presidential palace in Qui...

Peru to Launch Us$100 Million Science-Industry Link Project

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS';"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">LIMA</span></st1:city><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (NNN-ANDINA) - <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Peru</st1:country-region></st1:place> will provide US$100 million for a new project promoting the development of science and technology (S&T) links between the private sector, universities and public and private research centres.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Innovation for Competitiveness project, running for seven years, will also receive US$36 million from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), sources from Ministry of Economy and Finance told SciDev.Net. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Within two months, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Peru</st1:place></st1:country-region> will also have its draft strategic plan on science, technology, innovation and competitiveness, which is being drawn up by a dedicated commission, sources said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">These developments are in line with President Ollanta Humala's plans to boost science, particularly through fostering cooperation between public research institutes, universities, and small and medium enterprises. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Oscar Valdez, chairman of the Council of Ministers, announced the start of the competitiveness project, while Patricia Salas, Education minister, gave details on the strategic plan on Jan 5l during a presentation to cabinet and Congress. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Valdez</span></st1:city><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> also announced 1,000 new S&T postgraduate fellowships for study in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Peru</st1:place></st1:country-region> and another 1,500 at foreign universities by 2016. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He said another initiative will aim to broaden full access to broadband Internet in the country to improve access to tele-health, tele-education and e-government services. -- NNN-ANDINA<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Peru to Launch Us$100 Million Science-Industry Link Project

LIMA (NNN-ANDINA) - Peru will provide US$100 million for a new project promoting the development of science and technology (S&T) lin...

Mexico Prison Knife Brawl Kills 31

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<div style="border-bottom: double windowtext 2.25pt; border: none; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">  <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white;">MOSCOW</span></span></st1:city></st1:place><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white;"> (RIA Novosti) - At least thirty-one inmates were killed and other 13 were wounded in a brutal fight inside a prison in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, the state's public safety department said in a statement on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white;">Clashes between prisoners wielding makeshift knives, clubs and stones took place in the Santa Amalia prison in the city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Altamira</st1:place></st1:city>, an overcrowded facility designed to hold 2000 inmates but which has a population of more than 3000.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white;">The fight broke out when a group of inmates burst into a section of the prison they were banned from and attacked the prisoners housed there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white;">Federal police forces and soldiers surrounded the prison. Later, soldiers and marines moved in and regained control of the situation, the statement read.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white;">The public safety department said 22 of the inmates killed had been serving sentences for state crimes and nine for federal offences.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white;">Deadly riots and prison fights are common in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s overcrowded prisons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: double windowtext 2.25pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white;">Powerful drug cartels are fighting for control of smuggling routes along the US-Mexico border. Gang rivalries frequently spread into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s prison system, where prisoners held on federal drug charges are mixed with common criminals.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div></div>

Mexico Prison Knife Brawl Kills 31

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - At least thirty-one inmates were killed and other 13 were wounded in a brutal fight inside a prison in the north...