Stories for August 18th 2009
Spain/UK to cross swords in Gibraltar waters legal challenge before EC
Spain plans to help the European Commission fend off a legal challenge by Gibraltar over a decision relating to the Rock’s territorial waters, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle. Lawyers representing the Spanish government filed an application to join the controversial case last Friday, a day after the British government confirmed that it would support Gibraltar in court.
US/Colombia free trade treaty “heading for approval”
The free trade treaty between United States and Colombia, pending US congressional approval, is on route to be confirmed said US ambassador in Bogotá William Brownfield.
Governor Serra leads vote intention for Brazilian presidential election
Jose Serra, Sao Paulo governor and main reference of the opposition leads comfortably in public opinion polls for next year’s presidential election in Brazil when the successor of President Lula da Silva is to be chosen.
German research vessel will operate year round in Antarctica
The next five to six years will represent a great infrastructure and logistics leap forward for Antarctic activities mainly because of the greater technological advances of the scientific research vessels, according to Professor Heinz Miller a distinguished academic from Germany’s Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research.
Chilean police charged with shooting and killing Mapuche activist
Chilean military authorities have decided to press charges against José Patricio Jara Muñoz, the Carabinero (uniformed police) officer who shot and killed Mapuche activist Jaime Mendoza Collío during a confrontation last week in Region IX. Jara Muñoz is accused of using excessive force resulting in death. Mauches are Chile’s largest indigenous group.
Brazil and Mexico disappointed with their bilateral relations
Presidents of Brazil Lula da Silva and Felipe Calderon from Mexico called for a strategic alliance between the two countries based on free trade and cooperation between state energy companies Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and Petrobras.
US media sets eyes on Argentina’s “manipulation of numbers”
Argentina’s Statistics Institute controversy was joined Sunday by a most reputable newspaper, the Washington Post that called Indec numbers a ”manipulation (...) done under pressure from above”.
Malvinas Families will inaugurate Argentine Memorial next October
The Commission of Malvinas war Families confirmed to the Buenos Aires press that the Argentine Memorial at the Falklands’ Darwin cemetery will be inaugurated next October in two consecutive Saturdays. An advance party to coordinate the events is expected in the Falkland Islands at the end of the month.
