December 14th, 2013

01:26 AM ET

Give capitalism a chance to change Cuba

By Fareed Zakaria

In the midst of the extraordinary spectacle of Nelson Mandela's funeral – in a stadium with some 90,000 mourners, including more than 90 heads of government – a small gesture caught the world's attention. President Barack Obama moved to greet Dilma Rousseff, the president of Brazil. On his way, he shook hands with the person to Rousseff’s right. The photograph of that handshake ricocheted around the world. Understandably, because the man Obama shook hands with was Raul Castro, president of Cuba.
Remember, the United States does not have diplomatic relations with Cuba, and has a tight trade embargo in place against the island nation. So, many wondered whether this handshake was the beginning of a great shift in policy.

Mexico recovers stolen radioactive material

A remote-controlled robot was used to secure the radioactive source

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Authorities in Mexico have recovered dangerous radioactive material which was stolen last week.

Experts from the National Nuclear Security Commission used a remote-controlled robot to place the radioactive waste into a container.

The material, 60g (2.1oz) of cobalt-60 used for cancer treatment, was stolen while it was being taken from a hospital to a waste storage facility.

Six people have been arrested in connection with the theft.

The six were taken to hospital with signs of radiation exposure shortly after their arrest, but were later given the all clear by doctors.

One of the suspects was later released by police.

Honduras: Juan Orlando Hernandez confirmed as president

Mr Hernandez ran on a law-and-order platform

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The Honduran electoral tribunal (TSE) has confirmed governing party candidate Juan Orlando Hernandez's win in last month's election.

The result of the 24 November poll is contested by the defeated candidate, Xiomara Castro.

The TSE officially declared Mr Hernandez president for a four-year term from 27 January 2014.

Ms Castro, whose husband Manuel Zelaya was ousted as president in 2009, has demanded the election be annulled.

Mexican Congress approves controversial oil and gas bill

MP Antonio Garcia took off his clothes in Congress to denounce "the stripping of Mexico's oil wealth"

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• Mexico moves to open oil resources
• Mexican rally targets energy reform
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The Mexican Congress has approved controversial legislation that opens the state-controlled oil sector to foreign investment.

The new energy law allows private oil and gas companies to drill for oil and gas with the state-run firm Pemex in exchange for a share of the profits.

It has been approved by the Chamber of Deputies a day after being passed by the upper house, the Senate.

Opposition lawmakers protested vigorously against the bill.

They said the new legislation would damage the national interests of Mexico.

Venezuela's opposition falls short in lunge for new seats

© Photo: AFP

Latest update : 2013-12-09

Opponents of President Nicolas Maduro held key cities in Venezuela’s mayoral elections on Sunday but failed to deliver the crushing victory they had sought to try to undermine the hand-picked successor of the late Hugo Chavez.

Venezuela’s opposition retained its grip on the country’s two largest cities in municipal elections on Sunday, but President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government maintained the upper hand across the country despite deepening economic woes and growing discontent.

With results in from 75% of the nation’s 337 mayoral races, the ruling party and allies had claimed a combined 49.2 percent of votes, compared with the opposition coalition and its partners’ 42.7 support, according to election authorities.

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December 11, 2013

Texas Plan to Execute Mexican May Harm U.S. Ties Abroad, Kerry Says

By MANNY FERNANDEZ

HOUSTON — The scheduled execution next month of a Mexican national by the State of Texas threatens to damage relations between the United States and Mexico and complicate the ability of the United States to help Americans detained overseas, Secretary of State John F. Kerry has warned Texas officials.

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Uruguay votes to legalise marijuana production

By FRANCE 24 the 11/12/2013 - 07:03

Uruguay's Senate voted to legalise marijuana Tuesday, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee its production and sale. "The war against drugs has failed," said one senator, calling the bill an "unavoidable response" to that failure.

Uruguay's Senate approved legislation legalising marijuana on Tuesday, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug with a law that ultimately aims to combat addiction and drug violence

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Canada split over hijab-style Muslim police uniform

By Ségolène ALLEMANDOU the 09/12/2013 - 18:07

City authorities in Edmonton, Alberta, have unveiled a new hijab-style headscarf as part of its police uniform for Muslim women officers. Not all Canadian provinces, notably French-speaking Quebec, want to follow suit.

Police in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, this weekend unveiled official hijab-style headscarves approved for use by female Muslim officers, in a move that has revealed a growing split in attitudes towards the wearing of religious symbols across the country.

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US indicts ex-Mexico governor on drug charges

By Joseph BAMAT the 03/12/2013 - 17:43

US authorities on Monday indicted Tomas Yarrington, a former Mexican governor from the country’s ruling PRI party, with smuggling tonnes of drugs into Texas, as well as other serious crimes for which he could face up to 60 years in jail sentences.

US federal prosecutors on Monday brought multiple charges against a former governor of the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, including racketeering, money laundering, drug conspiracy and bank fraud – crimes for which the one-time Mexican presidential hopeful could face up to 60 years of jail time.

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December 7, 2013

In Cuba’s Press, Streets and Living Rooms, Glimmers of Openness to Criticism

By VICTORIA BURNETT

MEXICO CITY — It is a rare day in Cuba when the Communist Party’s triumphalist newspaper suggests that the government — just maybe — messed up. Or when the party’s chief ideologist renounces government secrecy. Or a salsa star, performing at an official concert, calls for the freedom to vote and to smoke marijuana.

But such gestures of openness are becoming more common.

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French police train Brazil for Olympic crowd control

By FRANCE 24 the 23/11/2013 - 17:14

French riot police, accustomed to managing up to 10 public demonstrations a day, are training their Brazilian counterparts in anticipation of widespread public protests at the 2014 World Cup and the Olympics in 2016.

French anti-riot police have begun training their Brazilian counterparts ahead of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games, both of which are expected to provoke large demonstrations like those during the Confederation Cup held in Brazil in June, when millions protested against corruption and poor public services in the country.
“We are preparing ourselves early,” said Marcos Palermo, a Brazilian anti-riot police officer.
The Brazilian police force has come under criticism in the past for its violent handling of riots. With an average of up to 10 demonstrations a day in France, the French police are well positioned to run the training.
During Friday’s drills, FRANCE 24’s correspondent Delano D’Souza watched as several people posed as protesters, throwing tennis balls and coconuts at Rio’s anti-riot police  who, in turn, fired on the rioters with tear gas and rubber bullets.
French Police Captain Jean-Louis Savet explained that while Brazilian police did have experience working with security issues in the favelas, Rio de Janeiro’s crime-infested slums, the World Cup and the Olympics would present a different set of challenges.
“The way you work in the favelas is different from the way you work in large events,” Savet said.
 

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Source URL: http://www.france24.com/en/20131123-brazil-world-cup-olympics-french-police-train-riot