Category Archives: International

Business/Economics, International

Chile hoping to become major oil hub

Chile is investing more than $400 million into developing petroleum resources at the south end of the country.

Punta Arenas, in the Magallanes region, has become the “Alaskan Gold Rush” of South America.  Labor, oil prospectors and investor’s money is flowing in.  The area is also a tourist destination, for Antarctic trips.

The oil boom has resulted in high inflation in the area, which surprises many tourists.

Chile has been wanting to develop the region’s oil potential for a while, but costs held them back.  With oil prices back over $100 per barrel they are now proceeding full steam ahead.

Business/Economics, International

Food crisis hits Guatemala, needs $26 million in food aid

The Guatemalan government announced they have discovered 15 thousand cases of chronic malnutrition in the country, for this year so far.

Next week the government will reveal a “nutritional risk” plan.  They say the plan follows UN World Health Organization’s guidelines.

The European Union already sent about $9 million last year.  Now Guatemalan officials say they will need about $26 million for this year.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Like your online Poker games? The creators are now wanted men, under a new law

“Our 1.2 million members are shocked and outraged. Many players cannot get access to their money. It is a confusing and concerning time for our members.”-John Pappas, executive director of the Poker Players’ Alliance

Players can’t get their money because the online poker company’s bank accounts have been frozen.

Executives from online companies like PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and Absolute Poker have been indicted by the U.S. Attorney General’s office for bank fraud, money laundering, illegal gambling and other crimes.

Three defendants were arraigned in federal courts in New York and Utah. Eight other defendants remain at large, and Interpol (international police) thinks they’re in Costa Rica, Ireland and the Isle of Man.

Costa Rica is the capitol of online gambling soliciting gamblers in the United States and around the world. Prosecutors are seeking U.S.$3 billion in assets from the three companies and have seized, or frozen, 76 bank accounts in 14 countries.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, made it illegal to accept or process payments in connection with “unlawful” Internet gambling, but did not define what “unlawful” gambling was. This is the second time arrests have been made under the new law.

Business/Economics, International

Booming economy in Argentina creates more homelessness

The United Nations released a study which shows that violent evictions in Argentina has increased, despite a booming economy.  The reason is inflation.  Along with a good economy comes inflation, and the cost of housing is leaving thousands of people in Argentina with nowhere to live.

Most of the evictions are from what’s called “informal” housing.  The UN reported that despite Argentina’s attempts to balance the housing issue, demand for “formal” housing still outpaces supply.  This is keeping “formal” housing costs too high for the lower income earners, who turn to “informal” (illegal) forms of housing.

 

International

Libyan Rebels say they need NATO ground troops

In a press conference held in Benghazi, Libyan rebel leaders said NATO air strikes were not enough, and that ground troops were needed, official to protect civilians.

The spokesman said that initially rebels were opposed to foreign ground troops, but under present conditions (meaning they are losing to government forces) they will now accept foreign ground troops.  Remember when President Obama said the UN attacks against Libya would be over soon?

International

Iran to hold regional War Games

“We are ready to stage such war games jointly with those states on the Southern rims of the Persian Gulf in future.”-Brigadier General Hossein Salami, Islamic Revolution Guards Corps

Iran said that for the 2011-2012 year (Iranian year 1389) observers from other countries will be allowed to watch Iranian war games.  It’s hoped that in the near future regional countries will also take part in the war games.  The purpose is to build regional support for controling the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian/Arabian Gulf.

International

Iran calls Saudi Arabia’s invasion of Bahrain a “Historical Mistake”

“If Saudi Arabia had not made the historical mistake of deploying its forces on the Bahraini soil, today the conditions in the Middle-East would not be so difficult and complicated.”-Alaeddin Boroujerdi, Iranian National Security and Foreign Policy Commission

Boroujerdi made the comment while meeting with Kuwaiti officials. Kuwait’s National Assembly Speaker Jassem Mohammad al-Kharafi, also condemned the Saudi occupation of Bahrain.  Weeks ago Kuwait was going to help with the Saudi and United Arab Emirates invasion of Bahrain, but backed out.  Now Kuwait wants Saudi Arabia and the UAE out.

Even Saudi activists are condemning the Saudi Royal Family for the invasion, and gave a dire warning: “I believe that the fire of Bahrain’s revolution will spread to Saudi Arabia. Any free opinion poll in Saudi Arabia would reveal that at least 70% of the people want the overthrow of the Al Saud dynasty.”-Mohammad al-Mos’ari

What makes the situation more complicated is that Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

International

Kidnapped Iranian contractors freed in Afghanistan

12 contractors have been freed, after being kidnapped in Afghanistan.

Iran officials will only say their diplomatic efforts worked to free the men.  “After the news about the abduction of these individuals, we pursued the case through Kabul’s embassy in Tehran as well as Iran’s embassy in Kabul. We have made several contacts with the Afghan political officials and military forces.”-Ramin Mehman-Parast, Iranian Foreign Ministry

 

International

Iran announces that it is ready to send troops anywhere in the world

“The Iranian military’s Ground Forces will deploy its peacekeeping troops in any region of armed conflict upon foreign ministry’s recommendation.”-Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, Iranian Army’s Ground Forces Brigadier-General

The Iranian general told foreign military attachés that Iran’s Army is ready for “peacekeeping” duties, anywhere in the world.  This is supposedly in accordance with Iran being a member of the Untied Nations, and being willing to help with UN peacekeeping missions.