Europe: Massive US Naval Armada Heads For Iran
The build up of naval forces in the Gulf will be one of the largest multi-national naval armadas since the First and Second Gulf Wars. The intent is to create a US/EU naval blockade (which is an Act of War under international law) around Iran (with supporting air and land elements) to prevent the shipment of benzene and certain other refined oil products headed to Iranian ports. Iran has limited domestic oil refining capacity and imports 40% of its benzene. Cutting off benzene and other key products would cripple the Iranian economy. The neo-cons are counting on such a blockade launching a war with Iran.
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FT.com / World - Ecuador draft constitution approved
Ecuador’s constituent assembly has approved a draft constitution that would increase the powers of Rafael Correa, the president, and open the way for him to run for two more consecutive four-year terms.
The draft, approved by a 94 to 32 vote, will be put to the public in a September 28 referendum. Should it pass, new elections are likely to be held in 2009.
The new constitution would give Ecuador’s president the power to dissolve Congress and Congress the power to unseat the president, although in both cases a general election would have to be called.
FT.com / World - Venezuela and Russia forge links
Russia and Venezuela reinforced their relationship on Tuesday as Hugo Chávez arrived in Moscow to sign arms and energy deals and establish a bi-national bank.
“I have great hopes we will be able to continue building our strategic alliance,” the Venezuelan president said after landing in Moscow. He emphasised co-operation on oil and gas and military technology.
Some analysts argue that, from Moscow’s perspective, the relationship is mainly business. “I don’t think there was much geopolitics involved, except for the non-essential but pleasant opportunity to poke a finger in Washington’s eye and give them a tit-for-tat for Georgia,” said Dimitri Trenin of the Moscow Carnegie Center, a think-tank.
Gourmet coffee eats into Panama forest | Environment | Reuters
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama’s gourmet coffees fetch record prices for their prized flavors but the strong demand is convincing some growers to clear land illegally and plant in one of the country’s few protected highland forests.
“It was designated a national park to retain the biodiversity of the area. People know perfectly well where the limits of the park are,” said Harmodio Santamaria, an official from the government environment agency.
The New Straits Times Online……..
PANAMA, July 24 NNN-Prensa Latina: Panama and the Andean Promotion Corporation CAF signed an agreement making official full membership of the country to the organization of the Andean Community of Nations.
The move received praise from CAF president, Enrique Garcia, who pointed out that it has strengthened the conviction that Panama will play a role joining the processes of integration of Latin America.
Panamanian president, Martin Torrijos, assured that Panama and the Andean nations have cause for optimism.
The time has come to set down the hopes of achieving a country with equal opportunities and a future of sharing and prosperity, he said.
Torrijos and Garcia noted the importance of working together to finance the Project of amplifying the Panama Canal with resources of up to 500 million dollars.
Is Torrijos making it easier for Panama to slip back into a dictatorship?
http://primapanama.blogs.com/_panama_residential_devel/2008/07/the-president-o.html
“Torrijos explained that future presidents will not be obligated to nominate a uniformed military officer to head the PN (Policía Nacional), but that his reforms will give his successors that option, which is currently prohibited by law. “
Venezuela’s Petrocaribe oil-supply pact expands to include Guatemala - International Herald Tribune
MARACAIBO, Venezuela: President Hugo Chavez said Saturday that he is expanding his Venezuela’s Petrocaribe oil-supply pact to include Guatemala.
Through the pact, oil-rich Venezuela provides nations with oil under preferential terms, including long-term loans and the option of paying for at least some of the costs with goods and services.
“It is an obligation to help the weakest” countries, Chavez said in a televised address.
“The United States would pay us $200 a barrel for oil — give it to me then,” said Chavez, whose nation is the world’s 10th largest oil producer. “Now Haiti, no. Haiti gets preferential treatment. Socialism says: To everyone according to their needs.”
Chavez said nearly 20 heads of state are attending a Petrocaribe summit in the Venezuelan city of Maracaibo this weekend, where Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom will formalize his country’s membership.
Too little too late?
Panama Investor Blog: Housing ministry proposes uniform construction code
Reasonable observers might suppose that for all the construction going on in Panama there must be a uniform construction code that regulates structural design, materials, energy conservation, fire safety, electrical, plumbing, heating, cooling, ventilation, indoor air quality, accessibility, safety, acoustics, disaster mitigation, green building, and more.
But anyone with more than a passing familiarity with building in the country can tell you no such code exists.
That could change, however, if reforms proposed by the Ministerio de Vivienda (Mivi) are approved and adopted.
“At present, both professionals and investors find it difficult to develop projects because there is no guide for the processes and requirements,” said Gabriel Diez, heads the Mivi.
“The code will establish the necessary mechanisms and processes that the various people involved in construction need to know,” Diez said, from the conception of a project to its final disposition.
Gulf Times – Qatar’s top-selling English daily newspaper - Americas
PANAMA CITY: Panama has ruled out hosting a US military base to replace one in Ecuador which is being reclaimed by the Quito government, a senior Panamanian official said.
Panama – along with Peru and Colombia – had been tipped as a possible site to replace the Manta air base in western Ecuador, a key strategic asset in Washington’s campaign to stop Latin American cocaine from reaching the US.
Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, a close ally of Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, has vowed to cut off his arm before allowing Washington to retain the base when the current lease runs out in 2009. – Reuters
Colom: Guatemala to Join Petrocaribe
Guatemala, Jul 4 (PL) - Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom announced plans to join Petrocaribe, an energy-cooperation program boosted by Venezuela.
To meet his goal, Colom said a Guatemalan official delegation will draft the document he will sign on attending the Petrocaribe Summit opening July 13 in Venezuela.