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»

Missile defense 'extraordinarily complex'

(NEWSER) - Asked about yesterday's "oops" when he and Dmitri Medvedev were overheard talking about European missile defense , the first thing President Obama said was, "Are the mikes on?" That got laughs, but Obama quickly turned serious, the Washington Post reports, calling missile defense "extraordinarily complex." He added, "I don’t think it’s any surprise that you can’t start that a few months before a presidential and congressional elections in the United States," not to mention elections in Russia. More»

But tumor was 'totally extracted,' says Venezuela president

(NEWSER) - The tumor that Hugo Chavez recently had removed from his pelvic area was a recurrence of cancer, he says. The disease didn't spread beyond the tumor, which "was totally extracted" during his procedure in Cuba, the Venezuelan president told viewers in a televised message yesterday. He added that he'll receive radiotherapy treatment, the BBC notes."I continue recovering, thanks to Venezuela's support, the Cuban people, the doctors here in Cuba, to the love from the people that fills me." More»

Rebels say they have so far kept the government out of Homs

(NEWSER) - Syria's main political opposition group today announced that it was forming a "military bureau" to unify and coordinate the Free Syrian army and other armed opposition groups opposing Bashar al-Assad. Speaking in Paris, the Syrian National Council's leader said they had originally hoped for a nonviolent revolt, but now felt the need to avoid "chaos" and take charge of the flow of weapons into the country, the BBC reports. The move came as the UN Council on Human Rights passed a resolution condemning Syria's "widespread and systemic violations" against civilians. More»