Politics
PoliticsBotnia Pulp and Fiction: Finnish “mea culpa”
Jussi Pakkasvirta, an expert on the political history of Latin America from Helsinki University, has recently published a wide-ranging study of attitudes towards the Finnish pulp and paper industry's controversial moves into South America.
Record support for Lula da Silva and his administration
The approval rating of Brazilian President Lula da Silva and his administration soared to a record 80.3% and 71.1% during November, the highest for a Brazilian leader and his government since 1998, according to a poll from Instituto Sensus released in Brasilia.
Mercosur unable to agree on double tariff system
Poor start for the Mercosur summit in Salvador Bahía, Brazil. Mercosur member countries have been unable to reach an agreement in one of the main points of the agenda and which has been a stumbling issue for years: elimination of the double tariff on imports from third countries and which are then re-exported inside the block.
Russian flotilla to dock in Cuba, first time since Soviet era
A group of Russian warships is to visit Cuba for the first time since the Soviet era, the Russian navy has said. The visit, scheduled for 19-22 December, will be led by the destroyer Admiral Chabanenko.
Raul Castro willing to discuss US trade embargo with Obama
Cuban President Raul Castro said he is willing to discuss the 50-year-old US trade embargo against Cuba with President-elect Barack Obama. Castro made the announcement on arrival in North eastern Brazil for a summit of Latin American and Caribbean leaders.
Ex-Chilean president Frei nominated candidate for 2009
Former Chilean President Eduardo Frei was chosen Saturday by the Christian Democrat Party (PDC) as its presidential candidate for the December 2009 elections, for which he will first have to face other hopefuls from the centre-left coalition in the April primaries.
“Hero” dog brings to light Chileans' attitude to pets
A recently released video of highway security film footage showing the heroic rescue of one dog by another on a busy Chilean highway is causing a big stir both in Chile and abroad.
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update
Headlines: Vice Chief of Defence makes Falklands visit; BA Honours degree for Nancy; Missing drugs: Spanish fisherman pleads guilty to charge of burglary.
Peruvian opinion poll confesses corruption is rampant
An overwhelming majority of Peruvians believe their country is corrupt or very corrupt, according to a national public opinion poll published Friday in the capital Lima press.
London police accepts full responsibility for Menezes death
London's Metropolitan Police accepts “full responsibility” for the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, its acting head said on Friday. Sir Paul Stephenson, the acting commissioner of the force, said officers made a “most terrible mistake” when they shot the innocent 27-year-old dead in Stockwell on July 22 2005.
