Stories for July 26th 2010
Indians seize controversial dam under construction in Brazil’s Amazon jungle
A group of about 300 Indians from 11 different groups on Sunday seized a controversial dam that is under construction in Brazil’s Amazon jungle and took about 100 workers hostage, officials said.
Cuban reforms “step by step” at the “rhythm we determine” says Castro regime
The Cuban leadership on the 57th anniversary of the revolution said that economic reforms will take place “step by step, at the pace we determine” and certainly not “by campaigns from the foreign press”.
U2 and Bono scheduled to perform in Santiago de Chile March 2011
Chileans will have a chance to see U2 in concert, as the popular Irish rock band, headed by singer Bono, plans to perform in Santiago in March 2011 as a part of its 360 Tour. It will be the band’s third show in Chile.
Easier and faster access to Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia
Chilean Public Works Minister Hernán de Solminihac recently inaugurated a new 9.6 million US dollars highway - Route 9 - connecting Puerto Natales to Villa Cerro Castillo, in the region of the Torres del Paine National Park, extreme south of the country.
Venezuela/Colombia conflict “weakens” South America’s image, says Brazil
Brazil’s Executive foreign affairs advisor said that the breaking of relations between Venezuela and Colombia “weakens” South America and negotiations to bring both sides together should not be seen as a confrontation between Unasur (Union of South American Nations) and OAS (Organization of American States).
“Boys, we’re not in the sixties” Chavez tells Colombia’s FARC
In an attempt to take distance from the Colombian guerrilla following claims of his alleged links with the rebels presented by Bogotá before the Organization of American States, OAS, President Hugo Chavez said that “Colombian armed groups must reconsider their armed strategy”.
Both Kirchners, Nestor and Cristina want to run in the 2011 presidential election
Former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner added more fuel to speculations about next year’s presidential election when he insinuated that both members of the most powerful couple in Argentina could be running.
Kirchner begins round of contacts to defuse Venezuela/Colombia confrontation
Secretary-general of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) Néstor Kirchner who this week begins a round of contacts indicated that “it hurts that two Latin American countries like Venezuela and Colombia have this level of confrontation” and promised “to work from Unasur so that we can bring the two nations together and not affect the close relationship between their peoples.”
Piñera rejects Bishops plea to pardon military involved in human rights abuses
Chilean President Sebastian Piñera rejected a plea by the Roman Catholic Church that he pardon members of the armed forces over human rights abuses committed during military rule. Piñera said the proposal had caused division in Chile and reopened old wounds.
Russian planning massive sale of assets to cover budget deficit
Russia plans the largest sell-off of state assets since the early 1990s as it seeks to raise over 29 billion US dollars to plug budget gaps over the next three years, finance ministry sources told reporters. The plan to sell minority stakes in 10 major companies in 2011-2013 had been discussed and approved at a preliminary meeting chaired by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
