Cubans vote in parliamentary elections - Americas - Al Jazeera English

Cubans vote in parliamentary elections - Americas - Al Jazeera English
Millions of Cubans voted Sunday for parliamentary candidates in elections critics say are closed and offer no real competition, but that the government defends as grass-roots democracy.
The elected legislature will convene February 24 and pick a new parliament chief for the first time in two decades, with the body's longtime leader, Ricardo Alarcon, not on the ballot.
The body is also expected to rename Raul Castro, whom state TV showed casting his ballot in the eastern province of Santiago, as president for another five years.
Voting began last October with municipal elections.

Colombian forces kill rebel FARC commander - Americas - Al Jazeera English

Colombian forces kill rebel FARC commander - Americas - Al Jazeera English

Government forces in Colombia have killed a FARC brigade commander close to the group's chief negotiator, the country's defence minister said. Juan Carlos Pinzon, the defence minister, said that Jacobo Arango, a FARC commander in a northwestern area straddling Cordoba and Antioquia provinces, a known drug route, was among six rebels killed in an assault on Thursday.

Explosion hits Mexico oil giant headquarters

At least 25 killed and 100 others injured after explosion rocked skyscraper of state oil company Pemex in Mexico City. Last Modified: 01 Feb 2013 12:15

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/02/2013131235854783395.html

At least 25 people have been killed after an explosion rocked the skyscraper that houses the headquarters of Mexican oil giant Pemex in Mexico City, the country's interior minister has said. "We have up to now 25 people dead - 17 women and eight men," Miguel Angel Osorio Chong told reporters, adding that 101 people were injured. The state-owned company said the cause of the deadly incident was under investigation and declared that any reports on the origin of the blast amounted to speculation. "What took place was an explosion in the B2 building of the administrative centre. There are injuries and damage on the ground floor and mezzanine," Pemex said. Dozens of employees were believed to be still trapped inside the building, more than 50 floors high, and rescue workers said the death toll could keep rising. Emergency teams with rescue dogs, helicopters and several ambulances were at the scene.

Venezuela's Chavez 'overcomes infection'

Venezuelan president has overcome a serious respiratory infection following cancer surgery in Cuba, minister says. Last Modified: 27 Jan 2013 00:54 inShare2

Chavez has not been seen in public since he underwent his fourth cancer operation in December [Reuters]

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has defeated a respiratory infection and has begun additional medical treatment in Cuba after struggling with complications following cancer surgery more than six weeks ago, a government spokesman said. Venezuelan Information Minister Ernesto Villegas said on Saturday that it remains unclear how soon Chavez could return home, and did not specify the kind of treatment he is receiving. "Vice President (Nicolas) Maduro estimates that the time it could take President Chavez to return is within weeks. But we haven't wanted to fix an exact timeframe for the president's recuperation," Villegas told reporters on the sidelines of a 60-nation summit in Chile. He read a statement that went beyond past government reports in providing additional information about Chavez's December 11 surgery, but didn't describe the newest treatment.

Colombian forces kill rebel FARC commander

Country's defence minister confirms local commander among six rebels killed in latest violence, as ceasefire ends. Last Modified: 02 Feb 2013 16:09 inShare0

Arango was FARC's commander in a northwestern area straddling Cordoba and Antioquia provinces [EPA]

Government forces in Colombia have killed a FARC brigade commander close to the group's chief negotiator, the country's defence minister said. Juan Carlos Pinzon, the defence minister, said that Jacobo Arango, a FARC commander in a northwestern area straddling Cordoba and Antioquia provinces, a known drug route, was among six rebels killed in an assault on Thursday. "It's a strike of great importance," he told reporters on Friday. Arango was close to chief FARC peace negotiator Ivan Marquez, who was also Arango's direct commander, and he had been a rebel for more than three decades, Pinzon said. Fighting has intensified since a unilateral FARC ceasefire expired on January 20, with guerrillas taking hostages, killing soldiers and blowing up oil and energy infrastructure. Government security forces have also stepped up operations. The violence comes even as the two warring sides have been holding peace talks in Havana to try to end a five-decade-long war that has killed tens of thousands of people.

Venezuela VP says Chavez 'gaining strength'

Nicolas Maduro says absent president is "conscious" and that his "vital signs and organ function are stabilising".

Hugo Chavez has designated Vice President Maduro as the country's caretaker in his absence [AFP]

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is "gaining strength" and entering a "new phase" of cancer treatment in Cuba, his anointed political heir said, as doubts about his health mount in Caracas. Vice President Nicolas Maduro said in a statement on Sunday that the absent leader's "vital signs and organ function are stabilising, he is conscious and gaining strength for the next stage". Maduro's remarks did not go far to address speculation among Venezuela's political foes that Chavez, who has not spoken publicly since December 10, is more ill than has been reported. Chavez designated Maduro as his deputy before flying to Cuba for a fourth round of cancer surgery on December 11.

Colombia refuses to extend FARC ceasefire Despite notable drop in violence, government holds FARC guilty of multiple violations during two-month ceasefire.

Colombia's FARC rebels have announced the end of a two-month unilateral ceasefire after the government refused to extend the truce.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) had been willing to extend the truce if the Colombian government signed a bilateral ceasefire accord, but President Juan Manuel Santos rejected that idea from the start.