China plans future, Venezuela oil company investigated, IS plot in Minnesota, Bangladesh attack...

China leaders meet to plot course in Taiwan, South China Sea, and US relations

The Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee is beginning a 4-day meeting in Beijing to plot out the next five-year plan. Among the highlights is a proposal to permit the international trading of Chinese currency, the renmimbi. These discussions come as the status of Taiwan is once again in the news. Beijing Politburo member Yu Zhengsheng issued a warning to Taipei that “maintaining no changes to the position that Taiwan is part of China is a sacred mission for all the sons and daughters of China.” Taiwanese elections are scheduled to take place in January and the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party is currently leading in the polls.

Relations with the US over the sovereignty of the South China Sea continue to be tense, despite assurances from Chinese PLA Navy Admiral Wu Shengli that US-China naval relations are “the best in history.” Shengli was speaking to US Navy officers who last week were welcomed aboard China’s only aircraft carrier. As the Chinese artificial island buildup increases, President Obama has authorized the Navy to sail within the 12 nautical mile internationally recognized boundary of the islands.

US launches investigation into CITGO parent company, Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA

Allegations of kickbacks, bribery, and money laundering of drug proceeds at state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) are being investigated by federal law enforcement agencies. PDVSA is the parent company of CITGO, which operates three refineries in Louisiana, Texas, and Illinois, as well as licensing of gas station franchises throughout the US. Former PDVSA chief Rafael Ramirez, who is now Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN and thus protected under diplomatic immunity, dismissed the claims as “attacks by enemies of the people.”

The sale of CITGO was floated by Ramirez in August of last year, but after receiving multiple offers, the Venezuelan government decided against it. A Bloomberg analyst has valued it at $ 8 billion, which would give some relief to the cash-strapped Maduro regime, which faces upcoming parliamentary elections coupled with depleted currency reserves and a 160 % inflation rate. News of the American probe into Venezuela’s most important economic asset is likely to put further pressure on the regime’s financial situation.

IS claims responsibility for bombing Shiite Muslims in Bangladesh

Three bomb attacks killed one and wounded dozens during a Shia Muslim holiday Saturday. The attack took place during a morning procession in Dhaka. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, releasing a statement on their apparent social media account claiming, “Soldiers of the Caliphate in Bangladesh were able to detonate explosives in a temple of polytheists in the city of Dhaka, during the holding of the polytheist rituals.”

IS has also taken credit for the recent killings of Italian and Japanese tourists in Bangladesh earlier this month.

However, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, claims domestic opposition is responsible for the recent surge in violence. Opposition groups in the region include Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladeshi National Party.

5 Somali-Americans indicted for IS conspiracy overseas

Five Somali-Americans, who were already charged with conspiring to aid the Islamic State have now been charged by a federal grand jury for “conspiracy to murder overseas.” According to US Attorney for Minnesota, the five men, three of whom have pleaded guilty, were charged in February for allegedly planning to travel to Syria.

Both Minneapolis and St. Paul have one of the largest Somali communities in the United States and this is not the first incident in which young Somali-Americans have attempted to join terrorist organizations; they have previously been recruited to join al-Shabaab in Somalia and jihadi groups in Syria. According to a September report, about 1/4^th of all Americans charged with ties to the Islamic State are from Minnesota, a large majority of whom are Somali-Americans.

Other stories we’re following:

Moscow to permanently station troops in the Arctic by 2018

Russian submarines operating closely to undersea cables concern US officials

Maldives VP arrested in connection with plot to assassinate President

Two bomb blasts leave 42 dead in northern Nigeria

Congo voters vote on referendum to amend constitution for presidential third term

Argentina elections result in runoff, government backed candidate in second place

Western-back Syrian rebels to refuse any Russian military assistance

John Kerry: Israel, Jordan agree to reduce tension

2 policemen, 7 IS killed in shootout in Turkey, according to police officials

White House: General Allen, US appointed anti-IS campaign leader, to step down

Russian Foreign Minister: Kremlin wants Syria to prepare for parliamentary, presidential elections