Calderon replaces Minister of Economy to face crisis

The Mexican president, Felipe Calderon, replaced today by surprise his minister of Economy, Eduardo Sojo, one of his closest collaborators, Gerardo Ruiz, to cope with the pressures arising from the food crisis and global energy.

The new minister of Economy, which hitherto served as head of the Office of the Presidency, will have as its main task the defense of family incomes, “mainly to rising international food” .

Calderon noted that the immediate objective is to design together with producers and traders agreements “to maintain stable prices of commodities” and “support the competitiveness of producers to resolve this situation structurally in the medium and long term.”

In his recent analysis on inflation, the Bank of Mexico warned that increases in international prices of food and energy have led to unexpected contributions to inflation, which reached 5.26% last June, a figure that exceeds the annual target, which is 3% with a variation of one percentage point.

According to a monthly survey of the central bank’s expectations about the economy performed last month, the major firms in the country analysis predicted an inflation rate of 5.07% this year, a figure that exceeded the projections of 4.74% had announced in June.

Deteriorating economic conditions forced the issuer to raise their forecasts of inflation between 5.5% and 6% in the last quarter of the year, as well as to reduce the projections of economic growth to a range between 2.25% and 2.75%.

Abuses threaten military fight against drugs in Mexico

The residents of this border town, who felt relieved four months ago when some 400 soldiers arrived to stop a wave of violence linked to drug trafficking, are now asking for help, before the alleged abuses by the military.

Many residents accuse the military of looting houses and torturing people, and caused discontent this week that more than 1,000 people marched through the streets of Ojinaga, with posters in calling for the president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, protect their own soldiers.

Ojinaga, which borders the population of Presidio, Texas, is not the only city where similar complaints have arisen. People in several towns where the Mexican government has waged the battle against drug trafficking says that feels increasingly frustrated with military tactics, an opinion that threatens to undermine the operation of national Calderon.

The National Human Rights Commission said that the country has documented more than 600 cases of abuse since Calderon sent 20,000 soldiers in several towns in the country to regain territories controlled by the ringleaders of drug trafficking.

The Attorney General of the Republic ensures that cases are isolated events. The army said that investigates all complaints and punishes those who violate the law. But many Mexicans believe that the soldiers have become part of the problem.

A survey published on June 30 by El Diario de Ciudad Juarez found that only 18% of the people who live there totally approves the army’s presence. Two months earlier, the approval rate was 65% full.

Cuba celebrates anniversary of the revolution of Fidel Castro

Thousands of Santiago celebrate the 55 anniversary of the assault the Moncada Barracks, the spark that ignited the revolution of Fidel Castro, in full carnival, where the telluric music and street dances centenarians are intermingled with political activity.

“This is the best way to celebrate a historic day we returned peace and tranquillity”, told AFP Bertha ‘Pregonera’, 77 years, while overwhelmed by the central street Garzon, one of the points where the carnival Santiago de Cuba -950 km east of Havana-are “red hot”.

Wearing a dress of white and bright pink edging a basket of fruit on their heads, the mulatto rechoncha says proudly: “there is no other festival in the world like this, with so much joy and, of course, with congas (genus vocalist and danceable ), Which are also unique. ”

With their multicolored costumes and dances, the bustling congas Santiaguera compete with each other, defending a centenarian tradition bequeathed by their ancestors, slaves came from Africa, and print a stamp to the celebrations peculiar.

Six, including “Holes”, “Pasofranco”, “San Pedrito” and “St. Augustine”, participate in this year’s carnival, which traditionally coincides with the date on which Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada, the first action that led to rebel the triumph of the revolution in 1959.

“Each one (of the congas) to defend its identity and membership in a neighborhood, has its own song, clothing, dancing and even smell,” commented to AFP William Ortiz, director of carnival, after stressing that “the soul of the holidays is the town of Santiago. “

U.S. gives two-week deadline for Iran to halt nuclear programe

Iran has two weeks to respond seriously to the international offer to curb its nuclear program or face “punitive measures”, warned U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

“If there is a serious response in two weeks we will always have the opportunity to explore the trail of New York,”

Rice said in reference to the Security Council that the UN could order a new round of sanctions against Iran.

Rice made these statements to journalists accompanying him on a trip to the Middle East.
A senior American diplomat said it expects no “imminent action” to occur in August, a month of lesser political activity by the summer holidays (boreal), but it expects to begin work later in a new round of sanctions “.

Rice, travel to United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discuss issues of Iran and the Middle East, said the diplomatic process has two avenues: on the one hand, “we have tried vigorously to negotiate” and the other way “is the possibility of punitive measures, and we are in a strong position to warn Iran that if it fails to act, it is time to return to the path “of sanctions.

In a change of U.S. policy, Rice sent the number three of its diplomatic corps, William Burns, to Switzerland to meet with Iranian representatives in an attempt to break two years without progress, the refusal by Tehran to halt its enrichment program uranium.

Until Saturday, the U.S. had refused to negotiate with Iran until this country paralysed its nuclear program.

Prison for man to sexually exploit immigrant

One of two illegal immigrants who were accused of bringing a teenager from Mexico to South Carolina and forcing them into prostitution was sentenced Friday to more than 14 years’ imprisonment.

Jesus Perez Laguna must also pay 52,500 U.S. dollars as compensation, according to the judgement issued at a hearing in a federal court in Columbia, reported the Department of Justice.

The federal district judge Joseph F. Anderson also ordered that child Perez Laguna outside deported after his release, and never be allowed to return to the United States.

Perez Laguna and a coacusado, Ciro Bustos Rosales, aged 36, was declared in September guilty of transporting the 14-year-old teenager from Mexico to the United States, to operate as a prostitute.

In April, Bustos Rosales was sentenced to nearly six years in prison and ordered to pay compensation. Authorities still looking for a third defendant, Guadeloupe Reyes Rivera.

In June 2006, the defendants made arrangements so that the teenager was introduced to the country, with the promise of giving work in a restaurant. The couple was taken to Charlotte, North Carolina, at various locations in South Carolina and then to Columbia, where he was forced “to perform acts of prostitution and deliver profits” earned, according to a statement under oath Craig Hannah, special agent in the office of Immigration and Customs (ICE).

U.S. government unable to force Texas to stop executing { Death penalty}

The U.S. government has no authority to force the state of Texas to stop the execution of five Mexicans, despite a court order for the UN to postpone this punishment, as recognized by the State Department.

Washington, 18/07/2008- “The Executive has no legal authority to decide whether an execution will take place in a state or not,” said Sara Mangiaracina, a spokesman for the Department of State.

She explained that the federal government recognizes that the U.S. is obliged under international law to review the cases of 51 Mexicans on death row because they were not informed of their right to contact the consulate of his country and receive their legal aid.

“We are working vigorously to follow that requirement,” said Mangiaracina, who was not more specific in this regard.

The spokesman admitted, however, that the administration of President George W. Bush is unable to compel states to comply with the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

On Wednesday, the Court ordered U.S. “take all necessary measures” to suspend temporarily the execution of five Mexicans, who are the criminals who are closest to the lethal injection group of 51 Mexicans waiting in death row.

George W. Bush overflies areas hit by fires in California

Bush on Thursday offered federal aid and encouragement to some of the 25,000 firefighters who work under the blazing sun to extinguish fires that together make up the worst casualty occurred in California.

“I always come to make sure the federal government is coordinating closely with the state government,” Bush said. “I know the governor (of California, Arnold) Schwarzenegger well enough to say that if we were not doing what he would do what I

Since a huge thunderstorm on June 21, some 2,010 fires have broken out separately in California, destroying nearly 364,000 hectares. Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in 12 counties affected by the flames and has employed the help of the California National Guard.

“The weather continues hot and dry in the interior,” said Jason Kirchner, spokesman for the forest service. “Our people are struggling with fire, progressing, but is very slow and much work.”

Bush flew over the area with Schwarzenegger to discuss the damage to Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the largest in California. Schwarzenegger said that 80% of federal resources fire was used in California.

“I want to tell people here in Washington that we are paying attention to is happening,” Bush said. “We care about you and we will respond as best as possible.”

Bush saw maps of the fires and then talked with firefighters who were repairing and paratroopers parachute reempacando.

“I want to say something to firefighters. We had the privilege to meet some of these paratroopers. They are exceptional people. Very brave, determined and dedicated.”

Later, the president would fly to the south to talk politics at a reception in Napa, north of San Francisco, which collected 850,000 dollars for the Republican Party.

John Edwards hunched out

 

Democrat John Edwards hunched out of the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination on Wednesday, say it was time to walk out-of-the-way “so that times gone by can blaze its path” in a movement now gone to Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.

Serial Blasts In Nepal

According To Our Sources On This Sunday A Series Of About Four Bomb Explosions Threaten The People Of The Katmandu. About Three Peoples Were Died And Over Twenty Were Hurt In This Explosion Including Eight School Students. One Of The Blast Was Took Place Near The Army Headquarter.
The Terai Army Took The Credit For This Blast. This Claim Is Still To Be Verified By The Authorities. The Terai Army Is Very Few Popular And Many Peoples Think That There Was A More Powerful Source Behind This Blast.

Government Continues The Peace Process Since Past Few Years With The Maoist Still There Was Repeated Violence Action Took Place In Southern Nepal Including This One And Over 60 Peoples Were Killed From Both Sides. As Far As Now Government Has Declared Not So Great Policies Against The Rebels.

Now The Question Is What Government Would Do As They Can Neither Go Against Nor Go With Them.

Pratibha Patil has been elected as the 13th President of India.

Pratibha Patil has been elected as the 13th President of India.she got worth 3,25,180 votes and the other side the ‘independent’ candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat has got the1,67,050 votes in presidential election she was the first woman president INDIA.