Venezuela

Cuba & Venezuela will jointly build coastal patrol boats

January 11, 2012

An agreement has been signed between the Venezuelan Defense Ministry and Cuban Transportation Ministry to jointly build patrol boats for the Venezuelan Navy in Puerto Cabello (Carabobo), announced Admiral Diego Alfredo Molero Bellavia (Commander General, Venezuela Navy). The project has been under development for six years. These Págalo class patrol boats (built by the Dutch [...]

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Key political risks to watch

January 4, 2012

Reuters‘ near term alert to key politcal risks to monitor in Cuba: Resolution of outstanding short-term debt. Signs of increased interest in foreign investment. U.S. inspection of drilling rig. Results of Repsol’s exploratory well. U.S. pressure to stop the drilling. Furthermore, on international relations: A planned Papal visit in March and improved ties with Brazil are bright [...]

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Cuba in 2012

November 30, 2011

I received today The Economist‘s The World in 2012 issue, whereby it forecasts the following for Cuba: Market forces and private enterprise will take on a greater role in the economy, under the strict guidance of Cuba’s Communist Party. It aims to shift 1m workers off state payrolls over the coming years, phase out rationing [...]

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Extradition of ETA suspect from Cuba

October 18, 2011

Via AFP: Spain will request the extradition from Cuba of an alleged member of the Basque terrorist group ETA who allegedly sought explosives training from Colombian rebel group FARC. Venezuelan authorities detained Jose Ignacio Echarte and two other suspected ETA members in August after the boat they were in ran aground on the Venezuelan island of Los [...]

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Key political risks to watch in Cuba

October 10, 2011

Reuters lists in its early October Factbox, key political risks to watch in the island: The pace and final version of reforms. The numbers and performance of the newly self-employed. Agricultural production. Resolution of bank account access for foreign businesses. Effects of global economic problems. The growth of American travel to Cuba. Arrival of drilling rig. Results [...]

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Two million Chinese spies

September 23, 2011

The Diplomat has a fairly extensive article on the expansive threat of China’s intelligence apparatus: the communist-controlled People’s Republic of China operates the single largest intelligence-gathering apparatus in the world—and its growing appetite for secrets has apparently become insatiable…From economic and military espionage to keeping tabs on exiled dissidents, China’s global spying operations are rapidly [...]

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