#newyork – European Affairs Magazine

Venezuelan opposition condemns Goldman for $2.8 billion bond deal

31 Maggio 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N)’s statement that it never transacted directly with the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro when it bought $2.8 billion of bonds for pennies on the dollar was dismissed by the country’s opposition on Tuesday as an effort to “put lipstick on this pig”. Goldman, in a statement late Monday confirming the purchase, said its asset-management arm acquired the bonds “on the secondary market from a broker and did not interact with the Venezuelan government”. The New York-based investment bank came under fire by Venezuelan politicians and protesters in New York opposed to Maduro, who say the deal nonetheless provided the cash-strapped government hundreds of millions of dollars in badly-needed hard currency. The deal, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, makes Goldman complicit in alleged human rights abuses under the government, they said.

US Senate confirms Trump nominee to be Israel envoy.

24 Marzo 2017 BreakingNews @en di

The U.S. Senate on Thursday narrowly confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee to be ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, an outspoken bankruptcy lawyer aligned with the Israeli right. The vote was 52 to 46. That amount of opposition is highly unusual for a nominee for U.S. ambassador to Israel, a close ally of the United States. For decades, nominees from both Democratic and Republican presidents have been approved without objection, via unanimous consent or voice votes. Friedman, who has no diplomatic experience, is a longtime friend of Trump who worked for the Republican former New York businessman as a bankruptcy lawyer.

In day of pro-Trump rallies, California march turns violent

6 Marzo 2017 BreakingNews @en di

Today have taken place several political demonstrations in about 28 states, some were in favor of the President Trump others precisely against the latter. In Berkeley, California, a group of Trump’s supporters came into contact with a group of opponents, this created a clash that has seen 3 injured and the police intervention to stabilize the situation, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, 6 anti-Trump protesters have been arrested for attempting to attack the pro-Trump activists. In the demonstrations in favor of Trump held in: Nashville, Tennessee, San Diego, California, Washington, DC, and New York are not recorded incidents;even in Palm Beach, Florida, where the President stands for the weekend, Trump’s fans have gathered to make their backing to the President that countered greeting some of them.

Nigerian Forces liberated at least 16 local governments occupied by Boko Haram

1 Dicembre 2016 BreakingNews @en di

The United Nations on Tuesday confirmed that at least 16 local governments initially occupied by the Boko Haram in north-east Nigeria have been liberated by Nigerian forces. The immediate past UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Safieldin, said he made on-the-spot assessment of some of the liberated local governments including Bama, Damboa, Monguno, Konduga, Dikwa, Gwoza, Pulka, and Banki .
Speaking to the New York correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, the official lamented the level of destruction on the communities by Boko Haram, saying there is real humanitarian crisis in the liberated areas.