Stories for October 2009

Tuesday, October 20th 2009 - 11:32 UTC
Uruguayan Court throws out special amnesty for crimes under dictatorship

Uruguay’s Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional a law that exempted military and police personnel involved in human rights abuses during the country’s military dictatorship which extended from June 1973 to March 1985.
Tuesday, October 20th 2009 - 11:21 UTC
Argentine government regrets incident suffered by US ambassador

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner regretted last week’s incidents suffered by United States ambassador Vilma Martinez and said “in all places there are always intolerants”.
Tuesday, October 20th 2009 - 08:03 UTC
Lula da Silva promises a million new formal jobs in 2009

President Lula da Silva said Brazil would end this year with a million new formal jobs and in 2010 the economy will expand 5%. Speaking at his program “Breakfast with the President”, Lula da Silva announced that 252.000 jobs had been created in September which means 2009 will end “with a million new formal jobs”.
Tuesday, October 20th 2009 - 07:59 UTC
Colombian president Uribe’s re-re-election is “in God’s hands”

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said that whether he is re-elected for a third running mandate is “in God's hands”, but he does not want future generations to think that he was attached to power, reported Bogotá’s newspaper El Espectador.
Tuesday, October 20th 2009 - 07:54 UTC
Brazil to slap tax on foreign capital inflow “to avoid speculation”

Brazil will impose a 2% tax on purchases by foreign investors of Real-denominated, fixed-income securities and on purchases of stocks. The measures are being taken “to avoid an excess speculation in the stock market and in capital markets” said Finance minister Guido Mantega told reporters Monday in Sao Paulo.
Tuesday, October 20th 2009 - 07:51 UTC
Petrobras in new oil and gas output record prepares to drill sub-salt deposits

Brazil's government managed oil and gas company Petrobras said on Monday domestic oil output increased 1.2% in September, compared with August, to a record high as it completed platform maintenance and boosted output at some wells. The new record is 2 million bpd from 1.98 million bpd in August.
Tuesday, October 20th 2009 - 07:48 UTC
Gorbachov blasts Russian electoral system as a “joke”

Mijail Gorbachov, the last Soviet president launched on Monday the strongest attack yet on Russian democracy saying that elections are a “joke” and the whole system is flawed.
Tuesday, October 20th 2009 - 07:35 UTC
Chinese economy performing better than expected

The Chinese economy grew above 7% in the first nine months of the year and is poised to surpass the 8% expansion target for this year, according to a top official from the financial sector speaking in Beijing.
Tuesday, October 20th 2009 - 06:04 UTC
Foreign Office praise to Falklands on ‘successful’ next of kin visits

A senior British Minister has congratulated those in the Falkland Islands involved in the Argentine next of kin visits saying, “…undoubtedly the visits can be considered a success.”
Monday, October 19th 2009 - 13:09 UTC
Uruguayan presidential hopefuls in their last sprint

In the run up to next Sunday’s general election, Uruguayan presidential candidates were involved in a flurry of political rallies in the capital Montevideo, turning the city into a stage of colourful marches and flag waving to the tune of the candidates’ jingles and musical backup.