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Record number of nations oppose US embargo of Cuba in UN vote
In an overwhelming UN vote, 188 countries have called on the US to lift its 53-year trade embargo on Cuba. Havana has slammed the financial sanctions as a flagrant violation of human rights and said they are tantamount to genocide.
The recording-breaking opposition to the embargo saw Israel isolated as the only country to vote in support of the US. Palau, the island nation that got behind the US last...
Brazil president censures 'NSA spying on Merkel'
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has censured alleged spying by the US National Security Agency (NSA) on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone communications.
“Nobody, no democratic nation, will permit this violation of sovereignty and human and civil rights,” Rousseff said on Thursday, adding, “There will be a growing reaction” from...
Ecuador to sue UK at international courts over Assange case
Julian Assange giving a speech from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on August 19, 2012
Ecuador has threatened to launch a legal action against Britain over the status of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if London rejects a bilateral commission proposal.
In an interview with the South American country’s public radio on Friday, Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said Quito will have no...
Germany, Brazil enlist 19 more countries for anti-NSA UN resolution
Twenty-one countries, including US allies France and Mexico, have now joined talks to hammer out a UN resolution that would condemn “indiscriminate” and “extra-territorial” surveillance, and ensure “independent oversight” of electronic monitoring.
The news was reported by Foreign Policy magazine, which has also obtained a copy of the draft text.
The resolution was proposed earlier this...
Monsanto denies its pesticides behind Argentine health problems
Monsanto has denied that health problems in Argentina are caused by its pesticides, insisting that its products are safe. It rejects an AP report that it is to blame for an increase in cancer rates and birth defects.
Reacting to an AP report investigating the effects of Monsanto products in Argentina, Monsanto called for more government control and attacked the credibility of the research.
“If...
Mexico orders probe into US spying on its top officials
Mexican interior minister has ordered a major probe into reports of US electronic spying on its current President Enrique Pena Nieto as well as his predecessor Felipe Calderon.
Miguel Angel Osorio Chong announced on Tuesday that he had instructed Mexico’s CISEN intelligence agency and federal police to conduct an “exhaustive” investigation into the spying operation and to determine whether...
Mexico slams NSA spying on Felipe Calderon
Mexico has condemned the recently-revealed acts of espionage conducted by US National Security Agency (NSA) on former Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
“This practice (acts of spying carried out by NSA) is unacceptable, illegal and against Mexican and international law,” Mexican Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
The condemnation came after German weekly news magazine Der...
Rio deploys troops, navy ships ahead of hotly contested oil field auction
Over 1000 troops have been deployed in Rio de Janeiro ahead of a major oil rights auction. The move to partially sell off Brazil’s most promising oil reserves has been met with opposition, triggering mass strikes and disruption to oil production.
A spokesperson from the Brazilian army said that around 1,100 troops are being deployed around the Hotel Windsor in West Rio where the auction will be...
Fire in Brazilian port burns 180,000 tons of sugar
Firefighters attempt to extinguish a fire in a warehouse storing sugar at the Brazilian port of Santos, the biggest of Latin America, on October 18, 2013.
A massive fire has ravaged about 180,000 tons of raw sugar in Brazil’s largest port, pushing international prices to a one-year high.
The blaze, which started at around 06:00 a.m. local time (1000 GMT) on Friday, damaged all of Copersucar’s...
Ecuador Shows Biblical Giant Humans to the World
In Loja province, Southern Ecuador and Peru border, many strange relics have been uncovered. Bones and full skeletons very similar to those of humans but of incredible size. These artifacts have been watched over for many years by several guardians in the beautiful valleys of that Province.
By far the most famous and well known of these “guardians” was Father Carlos Miguel Vaca, who guarded until...
Russian weapons coming to Brazil instead of American ones
The Russian military delegation headed by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu flew to Brazil. The visit to sunny Brazil is based on the subject of arms supplies. The Russian minister also plans to visit Peru to discuss and sign contracts for the supply of arms in the total amount of about $1,7 billion. In general, Russia is strengthening its position on the arms market in Latin America.
In Brazil, Russian...
Brazil criticizes Canada over spying reports
Brazil has strongly criticized Canada over reports of spying on the country’s mining and energy ministry.
On Monday, President Dilma Rousseff said her country seeks explanations from Canadian officials over the issue.
She added that new revelations about the espionage activities by the US and its allies prove that economic motives are behind the move.
The president called on Washington and Ottawa...
Greenwald, Scahill vow to unmask NSA's 'US assassination program'
American investigative journalists Jeremy Scahill and Glenn Greenwald say they have teamed up to prepare a report on the National Security Agency’s role in what one of them described as the “US assassination program.”
“The connections between war and surveillance are clear. I don’t want to give too much away but Glenn and I are working on a project right now that has at its...
Brazil's Rousseff to UN: US surveillance an 'affront'
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff lambasted US spying on her country at Tuesday’s UN summit, calling it a “breach of international law.” She further warned that the NSA surveillance, revealed since June, threatened freedom of speech and democracy.
“Meddling in such a manner in the lives and affairs of other countries is a breach of international law and as such it is an affront to the principles...
Spying scandal sends US influence on Latin America into nosedive
Democratic leaders from Mexico to Argentina are so resentful of American influence that they are now willing to take action. Spies did the trick.
America for the Americans – this is a cornerstone of United States’ foreign policy. That doctrine, introduced 190 years ago by President James Monroe, means this: foreigners keep out of the US’ backyard. For decades it [US foreign policy] also...