U.S. asks Venezuelan diplomat to leave country by Tuesday
AHN News Staff Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The United States on Sunday ordered the expulsion of a Venezuelan diplomat, Livia Acosta Noguera, without giving any reason. Acosta is Venezuela’s consul general in Miami. According to State Department spokesman William Ostick, the U.S. had informed Venezuela that Acosta had been declared persona non grata and ordered her to leave the country by Tuesday. Although no reasons were officially given for Acosta’s expulsion, it is believed that the move was taken following her participation in a discussion related to cyber attacks against the U.S. while she was stationed in Mexico. Several members of Congress reportedly sought an investigation into the matter and demanded her expulsion if allegations against her were proved true. Responding to a report on Univision, which broadcast the matter, the Venezuelan government rejected any such claims. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Defense secretary lauds Navy rescuers of Iranian sailors from pirates
Tejinder Singh – AHN News Correspondent Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – The United States on Friday was basking in the rescue of 13 Iranian sailors from suspected pirates on Thursday as the top U.S. defense official congratulated the U.S. Navy personnel who acted on humanitarian grounds. U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta called Rear Adm. Craig S. Faller, commander of Strike Group 3, on Friday to congratulate the Navy personnel who rescued the sailors and arrested 15 suspected pirates on Thursday in the northern Arabian Sea, according to Pentagon Press Secretary George Little. “The Secretary congratulated Adm. Faller and the entire team, saying it was a “well executed effort,” He said the team did exactly the right thing, and that he’s proud of what they were able to do,” said Little in a statement. Little cited Panetta as saying, “When we get a distress signal, we’re going to respond. That’s the nature of what our country is all about.” “The very same ship and set of vessels that the Iranians protested on its last voyage through Hormuz, the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group, just rescued this Iranian dhow from pirates,” said Victoria Nuland, the State Department spokesperson. “There were actually 13 Iranians onboard who claim that they had been held hostage by these pirates for some 40 to 45 days.” The U.S. naval personnel “returned the Iranians to their fishing vessel, and they went on their way,” said Nuland. Asked how it was established that the sailors were Iranians, Nuland said, “I don’t have the details, but my expectation would be that they declared themselves to be citizens of Iran, and they may have been carrying Iranian travel documents.” On the fate of arrested pirates, Nuland said, “They are still onboard the Stennis. We are reviewing the options for prosecution. We’re consulting with international partners.” Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Call for more coordinated approach to child protection
New York, NY, United States (IRIN) – A new report on child migration in West Africa says thousands of children are being sold, exchanged or transported out of their communities each year in violation of internationally-recognized rights of the child, and calls on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to persuade governments to better protect these children. Among the recommendations identified were: the need to align social norms, national laws and international standards of protection; the need to improve the development of children within their locale; the promotion of community mechanisms for child protection; the inclusion of children’s views in any protection regime; and joint initiatives to protect children from unlawful cross-border movement. The 79-page report drawn up by representatives of several national and international NGOs, entitled Quelle protection pour les enfants concernés par la mobilité en Afrique de l’Ouest? (What Protection for Child Migrants in West Africa?) looked at the problem in Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Togo in 2008-2010. “At the governmental level measures are generally limited to passing national laws. Joint action might simply amount to police intercepting and repatriating children,” said Moussa Harouna, program coordinator for NGO the African Movement of Child and Youth Workers, stressing that greater unity of action was required by governments and international organizations to support village development initiatives and set up child protection measures. The report calls on states and development agencies to integrate child migration into their development and child protection strategies. It wants any future ECOWAS action on the movement of people, particularly children, to be an essential part of a “coherent and pragmatic policy” against human trafficking and child labor. In addition, it calls on individual states to boost their ability to find victims of child trafficking and to differentiate this practice from other forms of mobility. Push factors Children may leave their communities because of conflict within the family, or the desire for education, apprenticeships or job opportunities to help their families. Some parents force their children to leave, but often departure is voluntary and motivated by the quest for a better life. Zelmet Fatimah and Zeydata Amina from Niger, two girls who beg along the Teteh Quarshie Interchange, a busy highway in the Ghanaian capital Accra, say they left home because of hunger. “There is no food there,” said Zeydata, “I come here every day with my sisters and my parents to beg for money. I beg because we don’t have money and I am hungry.” However, push factors are many and varied: “The children’s motivations are rooted in the current changing world… It is misleading to believe that a state, civil society and development partners have the…
Border law enforcement uses more military equipment
Tom Ramstack – AHN News Legal Correspondent Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – New surveillance equipment and weapons being deployed along the U.S. border with Mexico are prompting some Mexicans to complain that U.S. law enforcement is becoming too military. This week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection took possession of a sixth high-tech surveillance drone to patrol the border for drug smugglers and illegal immigrants. The drone is no different than the ones used by the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, local police who work along the border have been arming themselves with grenade launchers, powerful machine guns and armored vehicles, according to the Mexican news media. The Predator-B drone is one of four unmanned surveillance aircraft based at the National Air Security Operations Center in Sierra Vista, AZ. Two others fly out of a base at Corpus Christi, TX. “The missions from these two centers will allow [Customs and Border Protection] to deploy its unmanned aircraft from the eastern tip of California across the common Mexican land borders of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas,” the agency said in a statement. By 2016, Customs and Border Protection officials hope to operate 24 of the Predators. The drones, which are equipped with day and night vision cameras, already are credited with leading to about 7,500 arrests at the border and seizure of 46,600 pounds of illegal drugs since the program started in 2005. The drones can fly as high as 50,000 feet and identify vehicles and people on the ground while being operated by controllers more than 1,000 miles away. However, their sometimes limited ability to determine what is happening on the ground compared with Border Patrol agents makes some Americans wonder whether they are worth the expense to taxpayers. A Government Accountability Office report in September estimated the cost at $7,054 for each illegal immigrant or drug smuggler the Predators help to arrest, based on flight costs of $3,234 per hour. Even if the figure of 7,500 arrests is accurate, they are only a small part of the 327,577 illegal immigrants arrested along the Mexican border in fiscal 2011 alone. So far, the U.S. government has spent $240 million to buy and maintain drones operated by Customs and Border Protection. Nevertheless, the drones have strong support from border state lawmakers. Texas Gov. Rick Perry…
Hispanic community’s opinions strong on Supreme Court immigration case
Tom Ramstack – AHN News Legal Correspondent Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – The Hispanic community is voicing strong opinions on a state immigration law case the Supreme Court has agreed to hear early next year. Spanish language commentators say the court’s decision is likely to affect the 2012 U.S. presidential elections and the lives of millions of illegal immigrants in the United States. “Congress has repeatedly chosen not to act, though, prompting state legislatures to try to handle this issue on their own with devastating consequences,” said Janet Murguia, chief executive officer of the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group. “A ruling from the Supreme Court striking down these anti-immigrant state laws could be the catalyst we need to finally see movement on immigration reform.” Arizona law S.B. 1070 that took effect last year authorizes local police to question and arrest suspected illegal immigrants for deportation. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit to block enforcement of the law, saying immigration enforcement is strictly a federal authority. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco issued an injunction against the law, which prompted the state to appeal to the Supreme Court. Former Arizona State Senate President Russell Pearce, who authored SB 1070, said in a statement, “States have an inherent duty under law and the Constitution to protect their citizens from those who break our laws. I pray the Supreme Court honors states’ inherent authority and right under the police powers and supports Arizona in the protection of our state from the Obama administration, who has sided with foreign governments against our state and our citizens.” A ruling is expected in June, just as the presidential candidates are preparing for primary elections. During a Spanish language broadcast on the television channel Univision this week, Marcello Raimon of the Latin American news organization Agencia ANSA said that “we have to wait with our fingers crossed” in hope “that the Supreme Court does not decide to allow states to do what they want.” He added, “It is on the conscience of the justices if they will destroy the lives of millions of people.” About 400,000 illegal immigrants live in Arizona, according to the Pew Hispanic Center public policy foundation. Roughly the same number, or 396,906 illegal immigrants, were deported by the U.S. government in fiscal 2011, the Justice Department reported. However, they are only a small portion of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. California has the biggest illegal immigrant population at about 2.6 million, or 7 percent of its population. As their numbers grow…
U.S. cautious in reaction to death, succession in North Korea
Tejinder Singh – AHN News Correspondent Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – Officials across the U.S. government reacted with caution Monday to the weekend death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il, instead collectively conveying America’s unwavering commitment to South Korea. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta spoke with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin about the death of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il in a 15-minute telephone call Monday morning, Pentagon press secretary George Little told journalists. “The secretary conveyed to Mr. Kim the strong commitment of the United States to peninsular stability and to our alliance,” he said. “He made it clear that the United States stands with Korea in this time of uncertainty.” “Both men agreed that it was critical to remain prudent with respect to all matters related to our security posture there, and pledged to keep one another informed in the coming days,” read a statement from the Pentagon. Panetta was briefed on Kim’s death immediately after word reached the outside world over the weekend, Little said. “He has been closely monitoring the situation ever since,” Little said. “He has been in contact with senior officials here in the department.” Little said there was “no truth” to rumors that Americans would be evacuated from South Korea as a caution. He also denied there would be any increase in force protection for U.S. forces in Korea or that any unusual military movements had been detected after the death of the North Korean dictator. The press secretary said there had been no movement of the 36,000 U.S. service members stationed in South Korea. On the announcement from North Korean officials that Kim’s son, Kim Jong Un, will take over the isolated country, Little said, “I wouldn’t comment on the particulars of succession at this stage.” “Obviously, we are closely monitoring the succession process. The North Koreans are in a period of mourning at this point, and that being said, the military does exercise a prominent role in North Korea, but I wouldn’t want to speculate at this stage,” added the spokesman. Defense department officials, along with their South Korean counterparts, believe that a North Korean missile test conducted earlier on Monday was pre-planned and not connected to Kim’s death, a senior Pentagon official said on background. Later, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in a joint press conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, said “We both share a common interest in a peaceful and stable transition in North Korea, as well as in ensuring regional peace and stability.” The Japanese official echoed Clinton’s sentiments. “We share the recognition that it is important to make sure…
Thousands of disoriented birds die in southern Utah
Kris Alingod – AHN News Contributor Cedar City, UT, United States (AHN) – A massive clean-up and rescue operation in southern Utah continued on Wednesday after thousands of migratory birds crash landed onto highways and parking lots early this week. Officials believe the animals, called eared grebes, were confused by snow and artificial lights. Stormy weather on Monday night covered roads and open spaces in Cedar City in snow, which appeared to shimmer like a body of water. Grebes are small to medium-sized birds more adapted to diving and paddling in water than walking on land. The animal migrates southward late in the year to Utah’s Great Salt Lake, where it feeds on shrimp and flies until it returns to its northern breeding grounds in late March. Photos released by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources showed eared grebes being released at Grandpas pond in Washington County. The Salt Lake Tribune cited an official from the agency as saying an estimated 5,000 grebes tried to land Monday night, and that 35 percent of the birds died during the attempt. According to the Spectrum , there have been no reports of injuries among residents in the city or damage to property. It is the worst bird die-off since nearly 5,000 red-winged blackbirds were killed due to blunt-force trauma in Arkansas in January. The National Wildlife Health Center and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission both concluded that the blackbirds, which have poor night vision and do not fly at night, collided with structures and power lines after loud noises, including New Year’s Eve fireworks, flushed them out of their roosts and forced them to fly at lower altitudes. Birds, migratory or otherwise, face a similar risk from bright lights and glass windows from tall structures, which disorient their natural ability to navigate using natural light. The animals can either crash against the building or get “trapped” by light, causing them to circle the structure for hours until they die from exhaustion. Cloudy or foggy conditions exacerbate the danger by forcing the animals to fly lower. Other causes of bird deaths include habitat loss, poaching, diving for bait used for longline fishing, and poisoning from lead used in old paint, fishing tackle and ammunition in upland hunting. Chicks also die of dehydration from
Four soldiers die in Washington state chopper crash
Kris Alingod – AHN News Contributor Tacoma, WA, United States (AHN) – Four soldiers died Monday night after two military helicopters crashed near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. The Army has released little information except that the aircraft were OH-58 Kiowa Warrior choppers flying in a training area of the base. No one survived the accident and names of the four fatalities are being withheld. Kiowa helicopters are single-engine, two-seater aircraft often used for reconnaissance. An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, located in the Puget Sound region, is the top U.S. military installation on the West Coast. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Gingrich’s national lead continues to grow
Matthew Borghese – AHN News Contributor Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Another national poll confirms former House Speaker Newt Gingrich holds a double-digit lead over his Republican rivals as we head into primary season. After a string of debates and candidate popularity bubbles, Gingrich seems to have put a lasting distance between himself and the presumed frontrunner, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. In a Gallup daily survey, Gingrich leads with 37 percent, followed by Romney with 23 percent. In a distant third place, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) commands 9 percent of the vote. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), former Sen. Rick Santorum, and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman all battle for relevance at less than 10 percent of the vote. Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
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