Venezuela's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by just 0.3% in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period the year before, the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) reported on May 19. Miguel Carpio, an economist at Banco Federal CA in Caracas, projected a zero growth rate for the year. Finance Minister Ali Rodríguez attributed the situation to the global economic downturn, which has cut the price of Venezuelan oil from an average of $87 per barrel last year to an average $42 per barrel so far in 2009; oil accounts for more than 90% of the country's exports.

Venezuela and Bolivia are supplying Iran with uranium for its nuclear program, according to a secret Israeli government report obtained May 25 by the AP. "There are reports that Venezuela supplies Iran with uranium for its nuclear program," the Foreign Ministry document states, referring to previous Israeli intelligence conclusions. It added, "Bolivia also supplies uranium to Iran."

North Korea announced May 25 that it has successfully conducted its second nuclear test, in defiance of international warnings. Geological authorities in the US, Japan and South Korea reported that the test triggered an earthquake with a magnitude of between 4.5 and 5.3. The tremor emanated from Kilju, the same area where North Korea carried out a test in October 2006. North Korea said that test was a success, but the US and South Korea said the bomb did not detonate fully.

Thousands of Sikh protesters brandishing swords flooded the streets of several of major towns in India's Punjab region, burning trains, blocking roads and attacking public buildings following the slaying of dissident Sikh guru Sant Ramanand, who was attacked by six men with knifes and a pistol at a gurdwara (Sikh temple) in Vienna May 24. Ramanand, from the Dera Sach Khand sect—made up largely of dalits ("Untouchables")—was targeted by Jat Sikhs—a higher caste, landowning sect—who accused him of disrespecting the religion. At least two have been killed in the Punjab violence.

A total of nine people have been kidnapped in Colombia by victims of pyramid schemes, authorities said May 23. According to Harlan Henao Serna—director of Fund for the Defense of Personal Liberty (Fondelibertad), the government agency in charge of keeping track on kidnappings—the "collapse" of some of the pyramids led to "unexpected reactions" by those who had invested money in the fraudulent schemes. He said kidnappers are trying to recover close to 13 million pesos (US$6,000), with the nine people currently held captive. Police have arrested 18 pyramid victims on kidnapping charges.

Colombia's second largest guerrilla army, the National Liberation Army (ELN), asked the rival Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to end hostilities between the two groups. ELN supreme commander Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista AKA "Gabino" wrote an open letter to his FARC counterpart, "Alfonso Cano" asking him to "stop to fratricidal war between our two forces," the ELN website shows. In the letter, the ELN chief says he is still waiting for reply to earlier missives urging the FARC commander for a bilateral meeting and resolve the conflict between the two guerilla armies. (Colombia Reports, May 24)

Colombian President Álvaro Uribe on May 23 named armed forces chief Gen. Freddy Padilla de Leon as his new defense minister. Padilla will retain his current post while taking over the defense portfolio from Juan Manuel Santos, who recently resigned to prepare a possible run for president in 2010. Santos was a mastermind of the current administration's crackdown on FARC guerillas, who have seen their leadership decimated during Santos' near three-year tenure. (AFP, May 23)

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed at a ceremony marking the occupation and annexation of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day War this week that Jerusalem would "forever" remain Israel's capital. "Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It has always been, will remain so forever and will never be divided," Netanyahu said before thousands of supporters waving Israeli flags. Hundreds of Palestinians and Israeli left-wing activists held a protest sit-in at the Old City's Damascus gate, chanting "No to occupation, yes to peace."