Category Archives: International

International, Opinion, U.S.

Iran says U.S. & Israel behind regional drug trafficking

“The Zionists and CIA agents in the region assist drug dealers at Iran’s joint borders with Afghanistan. These [so-called] advocates of human rights have undertaken the task of investing in the production of industrial drugs from traditional ones and supplying them to Iran’s market.”-Mohammad-Najjar, Interior Minister

The drug trade from Afghanistan has resulted in more than 3,700 Iranian counter-narcotics officers their lives, since the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.

The United Nations admits that before the U.S. invasion, the Taliban had actually reduced poppy production to some of the lowest levels in Afghanistan’s history.   Now, according to a 2010 UN report, Afghanistan accounts for 90% of the world’s illicit opium and heroin production.  What happened?  The U.S. used to blame the Taliban for the opium production, but the Taliban are no longer in power in Afghanistan, mmmm.

The United Nations also ranks Iran as have the best anti-drug enforcement record in the world.  Russia has also made claims about the U.S. being involved with the drug trade out of Afghanistan.

International, U.S.

Libyan government arming civilians, to fight NATO invasion

China’s Xinhuanet news is reporting that the Libyan government is arming civilians, to counter a possible invasion by NATO.

Most of the population in the western half of Libya supports the government.  It also happens to be the half of Libya with very little oil production.  The rebellion/civil war started in the oil rich eastern half.

The Libyan government accused NATO of intercepting an oil tanker that was operating for the Libyan government.  That act is not authorized under UNSCR 1973.


International

Woman in Ukraine has 20 kids, wants more. Octo mom can’t touch this

41 year old Leonora Nameni has given birth to her 20th child, and she wants more.

Right now she has 10 boys, and 10 girls.  The oldest, a 20 year old, is married.  The family lives and works on a farm, and they made it clear they do not watch TV.  Mmm, TV watching reduces the number of children in a family?

Leonora Nameni has a ways to go if she’s trying to set a record.  The Guinness Book of Records says Leontina Albina, from Chile, still has the record of giving birth to 55 children.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Chinese issue warning over U.S. government debt

“The U.S. economic fundamentals are not strong, plus there is expanding fiscal deficit and declining financial revenue. We are closely tracking the performance of U.S. government bonds and considering a further adjustment based on current conditions.”-Guan Jianzhong, Dagong Global Credit Rating Company

It wasn’t just S & P that reduced the credit rating of the Untied States, Dagong Global Credit Rating company also downgraded the U.S.  That’s important, because it’s a Chinese company, and the Chinese hold most of the U.S. sovereign debt.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, along with several Chinese bank officials, urged the United States to adopt “responsible policies and measures” to protect the interests of investors (mainly Chinese).  The problem is that if those investors think they’re going to lose money then they’re going to start off loading their U.S. bonds in a big way (they’ve already been selling them off, slowly, for the past three months).


International

Bolivians don’t like Reporters

Currently there are protests going on in Bolivia.  The issue is workers rights, but it’s become clear no one cares about the rights of journalists.

Journalists are being attacked by protesters and police.  Everyone accuses the reporters of working for the police, or the protesters.  Even Bolivian judges are treating reporter with contempt.

In one case a reporter waited for months before his case was brought to trial.  He had been charged with causing a riot that destroyed a police station. Then he was let go, but only with the warning that he could not talk about the details of his trial.

In another court case, a reporter was ruled incompetent, and that all trials involving journalists had to be heard by a special judge.  The reporter in this case had been charged with insulting a government official.

Finally there is the case where a radio personality was murdered, and no investigation has been undertaken.   Reporters Without Borders

 

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.