Argentina fell in default on Wednesday following the collapse of negotiations between the country and "vulture funds" that are demanding full payment for the $1.3 billion in debt the funds bought up at bargain rates.
The Pentagon on Wednesday announced its recent approval for unlocking a massive stockpile of ammunition for use by the Israeli Defense Forces who continue to pummel the civilian population living inside the Gaza Strip where the death toll now nears 1,400 people—a majority of whom are civilians, including close to 300 children.
In a sign that the U.S. Pentagon is preparing further military backing of the government of Nouri al-Maliki, the State Department on Monday granted its approval of the largest shipment to date of Hellfire missiles to Iraq.
Citing Russia's stalled growth rate and a flow of foreign capital out of Moscow, U.S. and European officials hope a new round of sanctions targeting energy and defense entities, as well as major banks, will deepen Russia's economic pain even further and force President Vladimir Putin to end provocations in Ukraine. Roughly 30 percent of Russia's banking sector assets are now constrained by U.S. sanctions, Obama administration officials said, shortly after announcing new penalties.
The kidnapping and brutal murders of three Israeli teenagers — the instigating event of this latest cycle of violence between Israel and Palestine — was immediately pinned on Hamas. New information now suggests that while it may have been a rogue cell of Hamas members, the troublesome political organization's leadership probably wasn't responsible for the heinous crime.
Dutch and Australian governments are sending military presence with crash investigators to keep the MH17 crash site secure, dubbing the effort a "police-led humanitarian mission."
One of two black boxes have been secured from the Air Algerie wreckage site. French president Francois Hollande says, "There are, alas, no survivors. I share the pain of families living through this terrible ordeal."
As Israel continues to pummel Gaza, over 50 reservists in the Israeli army have declared their refusal to serve in the army and voiced their open support for "all those who resist being called to service."
The context: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu refused for years to negotiate with the Palestinians until they had a unified government, even when their leader was willing to discuss a two state solution. Then a government did coalesce...but it happened to be the often loathsome Hamas. Netanyahu refused again. Then the Israeli teenagers were kidnapped by members of Hamas. This is the never-ending proof that Benjamin Netanyahu was never serious about the peace process between Israel and Palestine.
