Stories for December 27th 2011
Argentine Media bill: “a dictatorship couldn’t have done it better”
The conservative and influential Brazilian newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo in an editorial described the Argentine government as an “austral democradura” (authoritarian regime) which is sponsoring legislation “to terrorize the media”.
Brazil votes 2012 budget limiting civil servants salaries and pension increases
The Brazilian Congress approved next year's budget bill, rejecting wage increases for pensioners and public servants in a bid to contain spending as volatility advances in international markets.
Rousseff reiterates pledge to eliminate extreme poverty in Brazil by 2014
President Dilma Rousseff, about to complete her first year in office, reiterated she remains committed to eliminate extreme poverty in Brazil by the end of her term in 2013.
Argentine human rights reference openly criticizes the Anti-Terrorism law
The president of Argentina’s Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo organization, Estela de Carlotto, has joined Justice Raúl Zaffaroni and other sectors from the country in criticizing the recently passed Anti-terrorism Law.
Cuba advances with capitalist reforms to install efficient market economy
Cuba will open up more of the country's retail services to the private sector next year, allowing Cubans to operate various services such as appliance and watch repair, and locksmith and carpentry shops, official media reported on Monday.
How US campaigns and elections shaped politics across the world
* By Andrew Hammond - The eyes of much of North America and South America will this coming year be on the US presidential and congressional elections as Democrats and Republicans fight it out for control of the White House, the US House of Representatives, and the US Senate. The ballots could have key implications not just for US domestic issues, but also US foreign policy across the Americas region, including in Cuba and Venezuela.
Chile confirms it supports Mercosur resolution barring Falklands’ flagged vessels
Chilean government Secretary General Andres Chadwick denied on Monday any official message from Britain or from Spain regarding Chilean support for the resolution that bars vessels flying the Malvinas flag from Mercosur ports, reports La Tercera from Santiago.
