Russia May Land Bombers in Cuba, Venezuela

(NEWSER) - Russian warships arrived in Havana yesterday for the first time since the end of the Cold War, the London Times reports. The visit comes at the end of a 3-month South American tour that Russia expected would raise hackles in the US. “I guess they’re on R&R,” said Condoleezza Rice. Russia sent off the warships after US ships entered the Black Sea this summer in support of Georgia. More»

Moscow seeks to extend influence in Latin America

(NEWSER) - Russian president Dmitry Medvedev is in Cuba strengthening ties with the Castro regime and attempting to broaden Russia's influence in Latin America, the BBC reports. Medvedev arrived in Havana yesterday from Venezuela where he and Hugo Chavez signed deals promoting nuclear energy and developing closer military ties. Russia is expected to sign an agreement with Castro to explore Cuban waters for oil. More»

Medvedev also says he'll back out of the START treaty

(NEWSER) - Russia is once again making noise about NATO's plans to build a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. Dmitry Medvedev warned that Russia would deploy new missiles and aim them at the shield installations today, in a harshly-worded statement that the AP sees as an attempt to rally domestic support ahead of Russia's upcoming elections. Medvedev also threatened to back out of the New START arms control treaty with the US if the sides couldn't reach a deal. More»

Venezuelan completed final round of chemotherapy

(NEWSER) - He's baaaaack: Hugo Chavez returned to Venezuela early today, after completing a second round of chemotherapy in Cuba, reports CNN . "Good morning, beloved homeland," Chavez tweeted today. "What a beautiful full moon greeted us at midnight." The Venezuelan president is now hairless after an earlier round of chemotherapy , but appeared vibrant and cheerful upon his arrival this morning, Reuters notes. More»

Chavez takes to Twitter for international relations, soccer talk

(AP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is using Twitter as a tool to govern remotely while he undergoes cancer treatment in Cuba. In more than 40 messages this week on his @chavezcandanga account, he has approved money for a Caracas trash collection project, praised plans for a new park, and cheered on the national soccer team. Chavez hasn't mentioned his chemotherapy specifically, but has alluded to his personal battle time and again , as he did in one tweet to a supporter on Tuesday: "We're moving along here, brother! With God and the Virgin!" More»