The European Commission (EC) has opened an investigation to determine whether the state subsidies the Chinese train manufacturing company China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) received, have allowed it to compete with an undue advantage in a public tender for electric trains and maintenance services. “A company should win, offer [ … ]
News
US Air Force Carries Out First Medical Assistance Mission in St. Kitts and Nevis
U.S. Air Force Forces Southern/12th Air Force launched its first medical assistance mission to St. Kitts and Nevis region, March 18. Forty-three U.S. Air Force active duty and reserve airmen traveled to St. Kitts and Nevis in support of this year’s Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) mission, where they [ … ]
US Air Force Medical Team Benchmarks First Medical Assistance Mission to St. Vincent
Under the direction of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Air Forces Southern/12th Air Force successfully pioneered its first Lesser Antilles Medical Assistance Team (LAMAT) mission to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, March 4-12. The team of 34 active duty and reserve airmen traveled to St. Vincent to work closely with their [ … ]
Latin America in the Crosshairs of China-backed Cyber Pirates
Cybersecurity has become essential throughout the world, and Latin America is no exception to this reality. According to the IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2024 report, the region was the fourth most attacked in 2023, accounting for 12 percent of incidents worldwide. State-sponsored cyberattacks are a leading cause of concern [ … ]
Iran and Bolivia’s Strengthening Ties, a Risk for Latin America
Bolivian President Luis Arce and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi have vowed to strengthen bilateral relations as well as strategic cooperation in health, education, agriculture, and telecommunications, among other sectors, increasing the Islamic Republic’s footprint in Latin America, and setting off alarms in the hemisphere about the various threats to security, [ … ]
Ecuador-China FTA Raises Environmental Concerns
On February 15, Ecuador ratified a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China, becoming the fourth Latin American country to establish a trade agreement with the Asian country. The agreement, however, raises concerns about the potential environmental and social impacts, as critics fear that the FTA will facilitate the entry of [ … ]
Nicaragua and Venezuela top Freedom House’s blacklist on freedoms in 2023
A report released February 29 by the organization Freedom House presents Nicaragua and Venezuela at the top of its blacklist of countries by region where electoral manipulation was used, leading to a significant decline of political rights and civil liberties in the last 10 years. "Global freedom took a big [ … ]
US Navy Partners with Honduran Medical Professionals to Deliver Needed Care
Expeditionary Medical Unit (EMU) 10 G-Rotation 16 strengthened health capability and expanded U.S. Navy readiness with Honduran medical professionals during a Global Health Engagement (GHE) in San Pedro Sula, February 17-March 2, 2024. According to U.S. Navy Captain Jamie Fitch, the officer-in-charge for EMU 10 G-R16, her team cared for [ … ]
Hackers from China, Russia, Iran Use AI Tools, Microsoft Says
According to Microsoft and OpenAI, hackers are using artificial intelligence (AI) systems like ChatGPT to improve their cyberattacks. In joint research published on February 14, the technology giant and AI company identified hacker groups linked to the Russian military intelligence, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, as well as the governments of China [ … ]
Hezbollah, Entrenched in Latin America
The activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxy Hezbollah have increased alarmingly in the Western Hemisphere. “Iran’s main regional objective is to establish a political, military, and paramilitary network, parallel to like-minded anti-U.S. movements and regimes, to counter its influence and erode its legitimacy in the Western [ … ]
Women Conquer Positions in Brazilian Armed Forces
In recent weeks, the Brazilian Armed Forces have taken historic steps toward the inclusion of women in their operational sectors. One of the novelties comes from the Brazilian Army: for the first time in history, the Army’s Aircraft Pilots Course and Aircraft Maintenance Management Course will have female students. “Gender [ … ]
Colombian Navy Seizes Record Cocaine Amount in 2023 with International Cooperation
The Colombian Navy, with the support of partner countries, seized a historic 393 tons of cocaine hydrochloride in 2023. The achievement, carried out within the Ayacucho Plan of the Colombian Military Forces’ General Command, part of the government’s total peace plan, dealt a decisive blow to transnational criminal organizations, in [ … ]