Panama urges UN to declare global state of emergency to confront food crisis
23 September 2008 – Panamanian President Martín Torrijos Espino today called on the United Nations General Assembly to declare a global state of emergency to confront the crisis of soaring food prices by mobilizing all governmental forces, private initiative and international organizations to save millions of people from the jaws of poverty.
“In the constitution of nearly every State, the declaration of a state of emergency exists as a mechanism to confront imminent dangers to national security,” he told the Assembly’s annual debate. “I am convinced that in light of food prices we are now face to face with a threat to social peace and the General Assembly could declare it as such.”
Russian warships ready for trip to Venezuela: officials
Moscow (AFP) Sept 22, 2008
Russian warships including a nuclear missile cruiser are ready to leave for joint exercises with Venezuela, Russian naval officials were quoted as saying Sunday by the RIA Novosti news agency.
“A flotilla of Russia’s Northern Fleet ships, including its flagship, the nuclear missile cruiser Peter the Great, destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and escorting ships, will shortly leave Severomorsk, the Northern Fleet’s base,” said Igor Dygalo, an aide to the chief naval commander.
“As a part of this trip, Russian warships will take part in joint exercises with the Venezuelan navy,” he added.
“The ships are loaded with both training and live rounds, all is in good order and checked, the ships are technically sound, all crews are fully prepared, and spare parts are on board the warships and their escorts,” Deputy Navy Commander Vice-Admiral Nikolai Karachun said.
President Hugo Chavez, who will visit Moscow this week, confirmed Tuesday that a Russian navy fleet will arrive in Venezuela’s territorial waters in “November or December” to conduct joint exercises, the first of its kind close to the United States since the Cold War.
Two Russian TU-160 strategic bombers landed in Venezuela earlier this month to take part in the naval exercises.
SDA Asia Magazine::News::CrimsonLogic Secures Multimillion Dollar Project in Panama
Singapore based CrimsonLogic, together with its Strategic Alliance Partner in Panama, Smart Solutions Marketing (dChain), has been awarded a USD10 million contract to build, operate and maintain an integrated customs management system(ICMS) in Panama.
Commenting on this contract win, Leong Peng Kiong, CEO of CrimsonLogic said, “CrimsonLogic has made significant inroads into Panama over the last few years, and this win highlights the solid reputation we have built as a trusted solution provider in trade and logistics in Panama. It is our intention to use Panama as a base to further expand our business to other parts of Central and Latin America.”
The win marks CrimsonLogic’s third major success in Panama.
The provider of eGovernment solutions and services was previously selected to build and maintain the Automated Pre-Arrival Declaration and Mobile Inspection System for the Panama Canal Authority in 2003. In November 2007, the Company, as part of a consortium with dChain, secured a contract worth USD2.9 million to build an electronic documentation system for the Colon Free Zone Administration in Panama. The Panama Custom’s ICMS project is the second deal won in partnership with dChain, which specializes in the areas of Supply Chain Management, Trade and Logistics, and eBusiness Applications.
Citibank begins operations in Nicaragua - International Herald Tribune
MANAGUA, Nicaragua: Citibank is up and running in Nicaragua.
Citigroup Inc. announced in a statement Monday that it has begun operations after buying Nicaragua’s Grupo Financiero Uno.
Citibank also recently opened branches in El Salvador and Honduras after acquiring local banks there.
Iran, Ecuador sign deal | Energy, Oil and Gas
OPEC members Iran and Ecuador have signed an energy cooperation deal, according to the official Iranian news agency IRNA. The agreement includes a plan to build a refinery and a petrochemical unit in Ecuador, in cooperation with both Iran and Venezuela.
Nicaragua’s Ortega says no meeting with Bush - The China Post
MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega says he will reject an invitation to meet w
ith U.S. President George W. Bush out of “solidarity” with Bolivia in its diplomatic spat with Washington.
Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled the U.S. ambassador this week after accusing him of conspiring against his government. Washington rejected the accusations and expelled Bolivia’s ambassador to the U.S. the following day.
Iran News - Iran hails Nicaraguan, Guatemalan presidents
LONDON, September 15 IranMania - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a message to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega felicitated him on his country’s National Day, IRNA reported.
In his message, he said that fortunately, ties between the two revolutionary countries have expanded significantly.
Guatemala president claims spying, head guard quits
GUATEMALA CITY Reuters - The head of presidential security in Guatemala resigned on Thursday after President Alvaro Colom said he found cameras and voice recorders hidden in his offices and home.
Colom said the devices could have been used for espionage but did not specify who he thought had planted them or why.
“This is a very serious infiltration in the presidential palace. We have found seven recorders, two hidden cameras and two similar devices in my private office,” he told a news conference. “There are indications there are more in the window of my house.”
Colom, a social democrat who took office in January, said he suspected a plot when information from his private conversations appeared in newspapers.
Panama creates controversial police, intelligence forces to respond to drug crime — South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP) _ Panama, which has no army, is creating a new intelligence agency and a border police force, prompting concerns of a return to its militarized past.
President Martin Torrijos says the intelligence force is needed to combat growing drug crimes.
He signed an executive order Wednesday creating the intelligence force and border police and combining the naval and air police forces. Lawmakers are expected to approve the initiatives.
But opposition lawmakers and civil rights advocates say the laws would give the government unprecendented surveillance powers.
Ecuadorian Constitution Might Be Ratified: Angus Reid Global Monitor
Angus Reid Global Monitor - Ecuador’s proposed new constitution has gathered enough support to be approved in an upcoming referendum, according to a poll by Santiago Pérez Investigaciones y Estudios. 50 per cent of respondents would vote in favour of ratifying the new body of law, up two points since early August.
In contrast, 27 per cent of respondents would vote against the constitution, and 24 per cent would either cast a blank vote or a null vote.