Link to article – https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61473884 Summary – Sanctions on Cuba imposed by the Trump administration will be eased, says US officials. Restrictions on travel will be lifted and the processing of visas for Cubans will be sped up. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the move would allow Cuban citizens to pursue a life free from “government oppression”. This comes… Read more »
Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-bans-entry-nearly-600-canadians-including-trudeau-freeland-2022-04-28/ Numerous countries in Europe and the Americas have banned and expelled Russian diplomats from their countries in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Canada, in addition to banning Russian diplomats, has also provided large amounts of military aid to Ukraine. In response, Russia has banned almost 600 Canadians from entering Russia including the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau… Read more »
Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/us-congress-revives-world-war-two-era-lend-lease-program-ukraine-2022-04-28/ Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, massive support for Ukraine from Europe and the United States has prompted the United States government to bring back the lend-lease program for Ukraine. This program will be used to ship military aid to Ukraine much faster and more efficiently, without the need to pass new aid through congress for approval. The… Read more »
Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-donates-wheat-ally-cuba-grains-prices-soar-globally-2022-04-21/ Following Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, global prices on wheat and other food products like cooking oil have drastically increased. Because of this, Russia recently donated 20,000 tonnes of wheat to Cuba, who has been a political ally since the late 1950’s. This donation was made to help reduce the food shortages that Cuba has been struggling with… Read more »
Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/ecuadors-latest-prison-riot-leaves-least-43-dead-2022-05-09/ The most recent riot in a string of Ecuadorian prison riots has left 43 dead and 108 prison inmates at large. These recent outbreaks of prison violence are reportedly due to rival gangs fighting in prison which cost the lives of 316 inmates last year alone. In addition to this, the Inter American Commission on Human Rights has… Read more »
Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/paraguayan-anti-mafia-prosecutor-killed-colombia-2022-05-10/ One of the top Paraguayan anti-mafia prosecutors has been killed in Columbia. Marcelo Pecci, one of the most successful prosecutors in Paraguay known for several high profile anti-mafia and anti-drug cases, was killed on a beach while vacationing in Columbia. Officials have said this is a strange occurrence, as he had not previously received any threats. This is… Read more »
link to article http://Venezuela begins imports of Iranian heavy oil for refining -PDVSA documents Summary: Venezuela has begun importing Iranian crude oil to refine in its own refineries. This deal will widen a swap agreement signed last year by the US sanctioned countries. The two nations last year initially agreed to this swap deal with PDVSA, a Venezuelan state-run oil… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/12/americas/cuba-mass-migration-intl-latam/index.html Summary: Cuba is experiencing the worst food and medicine shortages in the island’s history and because of this lots of the citizens of Cuba are fleeing to America. In March more than 32,000 Cubans arrived at the US-Mexico border which is twice the amount the previous month. Protests in Cuba started in July of 2021 because… Read more »
link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-bolsonaro-removes-albuquerque-mines-energy-minister-2022-05-11/ Summary: On May 11 Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro replaced his energy minister with a high-ranking Economy Ministry official on Wednesday. This is the latest political turmoil over fuel-price hikes by state-run oil company Petrobras. Adolfo Sachsida will become the new energy minister replacing the old energy minister, Bento Albuquerque, who was once an admiral in the… Read more »
https://www.reuters.com/world/guatemala-receives-first-arrivals-ukrainians-fleeing-conflict-2022-03-12/ Last Friday it was announced that Guatemala is taking in Ukrainian families fleeing their homeland since Russia’s invasion of its neighbor last month. These Ukrainian families arrive in the Central American country for humanitarian reasons. One of the Ukrainian members who were able to flee released a statement saying “I don’t know what the future holds for us, but… Read more »