Caracas, May 9 (RHC) -- The newly-created Council of State is not part of a process of transition in Venezuela as rumors circulated by the opposition have insinuated, according to the spokesman for the country’s governors to that body, Jorge Luis García Carneiro.

Moscow, May 9 (RHC)-- Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on the international community to remember the lessons of the defeat of fascism and to respect the sovereignty of nations in order to prevent future wars.

Beijing, May 9 (PL-RHC) -- Colombia and China have signed nine cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening their relations, which is the chief objective of President Juan Manuel Santos’ visit to Beijing.

Damascus, May 9 (RHC)-- The Syrian government says it was satisfied with the turnout during Monday's parliamentary elections.  Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Sha'ar told reporters in Damascus that the elections were smooth and had a good turnout, despite minor problems that "usually occur in any electoral process."

Algiers, May 9 (RHC)-- Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is calling on voters to turn out for tomorrow's legislative elections, saying the vote will usher in "a new process of development, reform and democratic progress."

Berlin, May 9 (RHC)-- Managers of the European Central Bank (ECB) say that continued financial assistance to Greece, aimed to address the sovereign debt crisis, depends on the application of a strict austerity program.

Kabul, May 9 (RHC)-- NATO has admitted it mistakenly killed an Afghan mother and five of her children in an airstrike last week.  The airstrike occurred in Helmand Province.  The Pentagon claimed responsibility after the killings were revealed by the governor of Helmand.

Miami, May 9 (RHC)-- Authorities in the U.S. state of Florida have arrested ten members of a white supremacist group who were training for a “race war.”

Quito, May 9 (PL-RHC) -- Several permanent commissions of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino), including Agriculture, Cattle Breeding and Fishing, Labor Affairs, Social Prevention and Legal Affairs, Political, Municipal and Integration Affairs, will meet in Cuenca, Ecuador, on May 17th and 18th.

Asuncion, May 9 (PL-RHC) -- The level of the Paraguay River continues to rise six inches each day, while authorities report the number of evacuees in Asuncion, the capital, now totals 3,544.

Port-au-Prince, May 9 (PL-RHC) -- Some 20,000 people were vaccinated against cholera in Haiti over the last three weeks, at a time when further outbreaks have taken place in different parts of the country. Local health authorities report the disease has mutated into a more resistant strain.

Lima, May 9 (ANDINA-RHC) -- Peruvian President Ollanta Humala Tasso has left for Asia to pay official visits to Japan and South Korea this week.

JAKARTA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Search and rescue was underway after a Russian-made commercial plane with at least 46 people on board went missing on Wednesday in West Java, Indonesia, spokesman of Transport Ministry Bambang Ervan said.

Havana, May 9, (RHC), -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will return home from Cuba, in the coming days after completing the latest round of radiation therapy in Havana, Venezuelan media reported Tuesday.

Kabul, May 9, (RHC), -- Spate of violent attacks in embattled Afghanistan leaves 12 people dead, as Taliban launches spring offensive campaign.