Cape Verde to Elect New President

Praia, Aug 21 (Prensa Latina) Cape Verdeans are ready to elect a new president of this African country between candidates Manuel Inocencio Souza of the PAICV ruling government and opponent Jorge Carlos Fonseca of the Movement for Democracy (MFD).

Spain Urges European Nations to Recognize Palestinian State

Madrid, Aug 21 (Prensa Latina) Spain’s Foreign Affairs Minister Trinidad Jimenez was hopeful that the majority of European Union member nations move towards the recognition of a Palestinian state, reported El Pais daily on Sunday.

“There’s the feeling that now is the time to do something, to give the Palestinians the hope that a state could become a reality,” she said in an interview with El Pais newspaper published on Sunday.

Malawi Government Dissolved amid Crisis

Blantyre, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) Malawi President Bingu Wa Mutharika dissolved his cabinet amid a political crisis, without specifying reasons.

In an official statement released Saturday, Mutharika said he will direct the ministerial activities.

Uruguay: Council of Ministers to Approve Farm Bill

Montevideo, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) The Bill on Rural Properties Tax (ICR) will be passed in the Lower House with the approval of all cabinet ministers, official sources said Saturday.

At a meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday, the government should pass the bill, which levies a new tax on the possession of agricultural land exceeding two hectares.

Egyptians Protest Israeli Attack on Sinai

Cairo, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) The Egyptian government demanded explanations from Israel for the death of five agents who were shot by soldiers of the government of Tel Aviv Friday, in an obscure incident in the Desert of Sinai, provoking protests in the Egyptian capital.

The Egyptian security agents were shot Thursday by Israeli troops on the border, according to media reports that quoted official sources.

DPRK President in Russia

Pyongyang, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina)The president of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Jong Il, started a visit to Russia to hold talks with his counterpart, Dmitri Medvedev.

Kim Jong Il is on his second visit since 2002 to Russia, one of the six members of the peace talks on the Korean Peninsula.

Russia, China, the United States, Japan and North and South Korea make up the group of negotiators trying to ease tensions in the region, especially on the issue of nuclear non-proliferation.

Interior Ministry Investigates Repression in Madrid

Madrid, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) The Spanish Interior Ministry opened an investigation into the violent repression by the national police of two lay demonstrations against public funding for Pope Benedict XVI’s visit.

Spain Approves New Measures to Cut Deficit

Madrid, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) Spain approved new measures on Friday to boost the economy and keep its commitment to reduce the budget deficit by six percent of its GDP this year.

The government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero gave green light to a plan of austerity and incentives, similar to the plan it adopted last year to meet the goal it promised to the EU.

Turkey to Support Somalia Rebuild Civil Infrastructure

Mogadishu, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) Turkey”s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced on Friday his government”s decision to help Somalia in the creation of a solid infrastructure as part of an international action to support the African country.

One Million African Children in Danger of Starvation

Geneva, Aug 18, Prensa Latina, The intense drought affecting the African Horn, particularly Somalia and Kenya, is endangering the lives of one million malnourished children.

Two million malnourished children live in the region, half of whom are in critical condition and could die, said UNICEF spokeswoman Marixie Mercado.

Second Oil Spill Reported in North Sea

London, Aug 16 (Prensa Latina) The Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell said it detected another oil spill on Tuesday in an inaccessible seabed area of the Gannet Alpha platform in the North Sea, 180 kilometers from Aberdeen, Scotland.

Shell confirmed Monday that more 54,600 gallons of oil had spilled into the sea from an initial leak discovered in the same place on Saturday, and at least five barrels daily continue to spill into the ocean.

Former President’s Trial Resumes in Egypt

Cairo, Aug 15 (Prensa Latina) The trial of former President Hosni Mubarak and his sons, Gamal and Alaa, on charges of corruption, embezzlement, and crimes against humanity, resumes Monday at the police academy in the capital. On Aug. 3, millions of Egyptians and members of the Arab community followed the opening session of the Mubarak trial.

US shocked and awed by the Taliban

By: Pepe Escobar

Talk about a double whammy. It was not enough for Standard & Poor’s to downgrade the United States’ credit rating; with impeccable timing, and apparently a single shot, the Taliban in Afghanistan simultaneously downgraded the empire’s colossal war machine.

The roots of Somalia’s famine

Mujer somalí sostiene a su hijo a la espera de la ayuda alimentaria en un campamento de refugiados

Lee Wengraf reports on the unfolding crisis in Somalia–and explains why the West, and the U.S. in particular, bears an important part of the responsibility.

THE EAST African nation of Somalia is the site of an unfolding humanitarian nightmare–a massive famine that has cost tens of thousands of Somali lives in the past few months, according to the United Nations.

Over 3 million people are affected right now, with more than 10 million at risk across the Horn of Africa. According to the BBC, roughly 640,000 children are acutely malnourished in Somalia, and at least six in every 10,000 children die each day.

Double Attack Kills 7 in Pakistan

Islamabad, Aug 11 (Prensa Latina) An explosion from a homemade bomb and a suicide attack on a control post killed seven oeike and injured 37 northwest of Peshawar.

Both events took place a few hours apart in the vicinity of the Lahori Gate and were the first of this type in over two months in the area, Geo News television reported.

Syria FM: Reforms will be Implemented

Damascus, Aug 11 (Prensa Latina) Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem reiterated during a meeting with diplomats from Brazil, India and South Africa his country’s determination to carry out a package of reforms announced by President Bashar al-Assad.

Unemployment Hits Record High in Greece

Athens, Aug. 11 (Prensa Latina) Unemployment reached 16.6 percent in May, the highest figure reported since Greece began publishing monthly figures in 2004. The figure is eight points higher than the 15.8 percent reported a month earlier, according to a report published Thursday by the Greek statistics service.

Southern Afghan Blast Kills 5 Foreign Soldiers

Kabul, Aug 11 (Prensa Latina) The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force reported five of its soldiers were killed Thursday when a homemade bomb exploded in southern Afghan.

The brief communiqué did not provide details of the event, or the identities or nationalities of the five troops killed.

UK: Violent Riots Spark Crisis

London, Aug 9 (Prensa Latina) The United Kingdom is facing a serious crisis after three consecutive days of riots in various cities, unleashed after police shot a man to death. Prime Minister David Cameron, who cut short his vacation due to the conflict, affirmed that he would do everything possible to restore order in the capital and elsewhere, as street protests continued.

Libya Slams Deaths of Civilians in Zliten Air Raid

Tripoli, Aug 9 (Prensa Latina) A Libyan government spokesman accused the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Tuesday of killing 85 civilians, including 65 children and women, in an air raid in the city of Majer.

The victims belonged to 12 families, the spokesman said.

Spain: Restrictions on Atheists’ March to Protest Pope’s Visit

Madrid, Aug 9 (Prensa Latina) Spanish organizations on Tuesday protested restrictions imposed by the Madrid government on a demonstration scheduled for Aug. 17 to protest what they say is an inappropriate visit by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Other Israelis

By Mary Slosson, Albert Sabaté, andAndrew Khouri

Albert Sabaté South Tel Aviv is one of Israel’s most diverse neighborhoods, with migrant workers and Israeli citizens of diverse backgrounds living in close proximity.

TEL AVIV, Israel—After running up four flights in an unlit and poorly marked staircase in a drab concrete building in the heart of immigrant south Tel Aviv, Sheila begged her way through the front desk at a migrant worker advocacy group and arrived, short for breath, in the office of advocate Idit Lebovitch.

Her hands were clasped together in a quest for forgiveness and salvation.

Protesters Reject Pope Visit to Spain

Madrid, Aug 8 (Prensa Latina) Members of the 15-M protest movement this week will resume demonstrations in public places to oppose the visit of Pope Benedict XVI.

Members of what is also known the “Outraged” movement plans a program of protests to oppose the Popeâ�Ös arrival on Aug 18th.

Vietnam, Laos for Strengthened, Special Relationship

Hanoi, Aug 8 (Prensa Latina) The governments of Vietnam and Laos ratified on Monday their decision to further strengthen their special relations in order to make them deeper, more effective and practical.

Israeli Parliament Cancels Holiday Due to Protests

Jerusalem, Aug 8 (Prensa Latina) The Israeli Knesset, or Parliament, suspended its summer holiday on Monday due to a demand of Kadima, the opposition party, to analyze the escalation of anti-government protests.