Washington, May 14 (RHC)—Washington will announce the granting to Israel of a special military aid package during a visit  to be paid  over the next few to the United states by Israeli Defense minister Ehud Barak, international media reported on Monday.

Bogota, May 14 (RHC)—Colombian Human Rights activist and former senator Piedad Cordoba said on Monday that she accepted to mediate in the release of French journalist Romeo Langlois, who has been held by the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces since late April.

Madrid, May 14 (RHC)-- Protesters in Spain marked the third day of demonstrations at Madrid's Puerta del Sol, on the eve of the first anniversary of the M-15 Movement.  At least 100,000 people marched in Spain over the weekend in 80 cities to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the protest movement that arose in response to crippling austerity measures and economic stagnation.

Damascus, May 14 (RHC)-- The Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun, has criticized the media campaign led by Western nations against the country and said its effects are more dangerous than bullets.

Sanna, May 14 (RHC)-- At least 11 people have been killed in two apparent U.S. drone attacks in southern Yemen.  Yemeni officials said the victims were alleged al-Qaeda militants.  The attack would mark at least the second U.S. drone strike in the past week following the killing of a suspect wanted in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole.

Washington, May 14 (RHC)-- The Barack Obama administration is proceeding with military sales to Bahrain despite the ruling monarchy’s ongoing repression of pro-democracy protests.  The U.S. State Department has announced it will allow a multi-million dollar weapons shipment to the Bahraini government, citing "national security interests."

Ramallah, May 14 (RHC)-- Representatives of Palestinian prisoners have reportedly reached a tentative agreement with Israel that could end a massive hunger strike by some 2,000 people behind bars.

Athens, May 14 (RHC)-- Greece appears headed toward a new round of elections with the ongoing failure of rival political parties to form a government coalition.  The impasse centers on an international bailout that offers Greece billions in loans in return for harsh austerity measures gutting the public sector.

Berlin, May 14 (RHC)-- In Germany, voters have handed a defeat to the party of Chancellor Angela Merkel in what is being called a rebuke of Merkel’s Europe-wide austerity agenda.

Caracas, May 14 (RHC) -- President Hugo Chávez’s warnings about the danger of a possible U.S. military intervention in Venezuela are totally justified, according to Argentinean political scientist and sociologist Atilio Borón.

Brasilia, May 14 (RHC) -- Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff said the plan “Loving Brazil” is one of the most important actions taken by the Government to combat poverty in early childhood.

Kingston, May 14 (RHC) -- Jamaica’s Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen said his country intends to strengthen its relations with South and Central America.

La Paz, May 14 (RHC) -- Bolivian President Evo Morales praised the unity of the agricultural workers’ movement in the country during the closing session of the 15th Congress of the United Federation of Agricultural Workers in the city of Cochabamba.

Bogota, May 14 (NNN-AGENCIES-RHC) -- The rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has decided to free a French reporter they kidnapped two weeks ago, although they have not given a date for his release.

Berlin, May 14 (RHC) -- Diplomatic representatives of the government of Angela Merkel are insisting on a stronger, more open support of the political opposition in Venezuela by the European Union, the German website Amerika21.de reported.