In The News

Granting Snowden Asylum Could Help and Hurt Ecuador's Leader

Chris Kraul, Pablo Jaramillo Viteri June 28, 2013
Giving asylum to Edward Snowden, the former US National Security Agency systems administrator who has exposed broad surveillance programs, might have mixed results for Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. While assisting Snowden would help boost Correa’s image as a human-rights advocate in the international arena, Ecuador may have to sacrifice its trade preferences to enter the US market – set to...

US Tech Firms Look Abroad for Engineers

Kim Gittleson June 27, 2013
US tech companies have long complained that most slots in some US university math and tech programs are filled by foreign students, many of whom cannot stay in the country to work. The US reserves 65,000 H-1B visas for workers deemed “highly skilled” – covering not just engineers but teachers, telemarketers and outsourcing staff – and another 20,000 for foreigners with graduate degrees. Conducted...

Mexico Eyes China as New Tequila Market

Wenqian Zhu June 26, 2013
A new challenge awaits Mexican tequila producers who want to export their product: studying the spirits, culture and customs of the Chinese upper middle class. China had long restricted imports of foreign liquors with more than 2 grams of methanol per liter, such as tequila, citing harmful health effects, but has since reversed that stance. During a visit to Mexico, Chinese President Xi Jinping...

Brazil Militarizes Borders Ahead of Cup

Lucy Jordan June 26, 2013
Brazil is preparing security for a series of events that, if smoothly run, will raise the country’s profile around the globe: the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 in mid-June; the July visit by Pope Francis for World Youth Day; the 2014 FIFA World Cup; and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil’s borders are five times longer than the US-Mexico border, reports Lucy Jordan for the Rio Times, and...

Nicaragua Canal Plan Not a Joke

June 25, 2013
After denying connection to Chinese authorities or the Communist Party, Wang Jing is promising transparency in a $40 billion dollar project to build the Nicaragua canal. The only public face of the project, Wang is offering few details about himself. At a news conference in Beijing, he mentioned not wanting the Nicaragua canal to become “an international joke” or an example of “Chinese investment...

Holder Promises Snowden Will Face Justice

Jamie Smyth, Geoff Dyer, Paul J Davies June 25, 2013
US Attorney General Eric Holder has accused Edward Snowden, the source behind the National Security Agency leaks, of endangering lives of citizens in the US and those in allied nations, and vows to prosecute the computer technician. In the run-up to the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has said that an agreement was reached with Holder to form a joint US-EU...

Prism Informant: Moscow Welcomes Snowden With Open Arms

Benjamin Bidder June 25, 2013
Former NSA employee Edward Snowden’s arrival in Russia offers a public relations coup for Moscow after a string of criticisms by the United States on a number of fronts related to rights and freedoms. According to Spiegel Online, some members of the Russian parliament appear delighted with Snowden’s reported presence in their country, amid speculation about his eventual travel to Ecuador in light...