Washington, June 1 (RHC)—The US House of Representatives is debating a new initiative restricting trips to the island by Cubans who reside in the United States. The new measure was promoted by legislator David Rivera, from the US state of Florida.

Brussels, June 1 (RHC)-- Unemployment across the 17 countries that use the Euro remained at 11 percent in April -- the highest level since the single currency was introduced back in 1999, piling further pressure on the region’s leaders to switch from austerity to focus on stimulating growth.

La Paz, June 1 (RHC) -- Social movements in Bolivia are working on a five-point agenda for a summit slated to run parallel to the 42nd General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS).

Caracas, June 1 (RHC) -- More than 2,000 houses will be given to residents of various Venezuelan states as part of a government program against the housing deficit.

Quito, June 1 (RHC) -- Participants at the Regional Pacific Seminar on Decolonization, held in Ecuador by the UN Special Committee on Decolonization, pointed to a reverse in the ongoing process for the liberation of non-self-governing territories.

Lima, June 1 (ANDINA-RHC) -- Peruvian Economy and Finance Minister Luis Miguel Castilla says the government is working to ensure social peace in the country while maintaining economic growth.

Rio de Janeiro, June 1 (RHC) -- Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he will run for the presidency of his country in 2014, if incumbent President Dilma Rousseff does not seek re-election.

Tegucigalpa, June 1 (RHC) -- The Attorney General’s Office for Minors’ Affairs in Honduras has denounced the government’s disregard or little attention to children and adolescents, as well as the increase of children being sexually abused.

Bridgetown, June 1 (NNN-CMC-RHC) -- Despite an unusually active off-season beginning with two named storms, forecasters predict the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season will be quieter than last year’s, with a roughly one-in-three chance of a major hurricane barrelling through the Caribbean region.

Madrid, June 1 (RHC)-- Spaniards alarmed by the dire state of their banks are sending their money abroad at the fastest rate since records began, according to new figures on Thursday.

Damascus, June 1 (RHC)-- The Syrian Foreign Ministry has warned the international community about the use of mercenaries and so-called 'security companies' as part of their war against developing countries.

Gaza, June 1 (RHC)-- A Palestinian civilian and an Israeli soldier were killed during an exchange of fire in the southern Gaza strip on Friday morning.  Palestinian media reports indicated that member of Israel's Golani force opened fire on people who were apparently trying to cross a border fence near the southern village of Abassan.

Bethlehem, June 1 (RHC)-- Human rights groups on Thursday expressed outrage at Israeli authorities' disregard of the immediate danger to the lives of two Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike.  Mahmoud al-Sarsak has been on hunger strike for 74 days and Akram al-Rekhawi has refused food for 50 days.

Paris, June 1 (RHC)-- French journalist Romeo Langlois returned to France Friday, two days after his release by rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who held him captive in the jungle for a month.

Damascus, Jun 1^st, (RHC), -- Gunmen killed 11 workers at a state-owned fertilizer factory in the volatile central Syrian province of Homs, as the government blames armed terrorist groups for the violence across the country as part of a plan to ignite a civil war.