Stories for December 12th 2011

Monday, December 12th 2011 - 21:39 UTC
Monument to Brazilian general triggers controversy with human rights groups

The Order of Brazilian Lawyers, OAB, considers the building of a monument to the memory of General Golbery do Couto e Silva, considered the most important mind behind the military dictatorship (1964/1985) as an “unnecessary provocation” which involves “some military officers” in disagreement with the Truth Commission.
Monday, December 12th 2011 - 20:33 UTC
China securities commission exposes biggest-ever case of stocks’ manipulation

China Security Regulatory Commission exposed its biggest-ever case of stock market manipulation in a show of strength by the new securities regulator, who has vowed to crack down on rampant illegal trading.
Monday, December 12th 2011 - 20:22 UTC
Peruvian government ally abandons cabinet fearing ‘militarization’

Former president Alejandro Toledo announced Sunday that his party was leaving Peru's ruling coalition after President Ollanta Humala appointed an ex-army officer as the new prime minister.
Monday, December 12th 2011 - 20:05 UTC
Extended corruption in access to land in 61 countries, claims FAO and Transparency

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, and Transparency International have detected serious corruption problems in the access to land in at least 61 countries, among which some in Latinamerica.
Monday, December 12th 2011 - 19:54 UTC
Mercosur planning to change rules to ensure full incorporation of Venezuela

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica announced Mercosur is considering the modification of legislation so that Venezuela can definitively be incorporated as a full member to the South American trade block, which has been blocked for several years now by the Paraguayan Congress.
Monday, December 12th 2011 - 19:26 UTC
Economists downgrade Brazil’s growth estimates for this year and 2012

Brazilian bank economists cut the country’s growth estimate for this year to below 3%, (2.97%) according to a last week survey by the Central bank of over one hundred institutions and which was released Monday.
Monday, December 12th 2011 - 05:11 UTC
Happy ending for Durban climate summit: Kyoto Protocol extended to 2017

Climate negotiators agreed a pact that would for the first time force all the biggest polluters to take action on greenhouse gas emissions, but critics said the action plan was not aggressive enough to slow the pace of global warming.
Monday, December 12th 2011 - 05:08 UTC
Uruguay’s ruling coalition admits divisions in economic and financial policies

Uruguay’s ruling coalition main grouping and which responds to President Jose Mujica expressed their full support for the Executive and Economy minister Fernando Lorenzo and his team, which has been increasingly questioned lately for its “excessive orthodoxy”.
Monday, December 12th 2011 - 05:02 UTC
Argentina planning a Malvinas war museum for the 30th anniversary

Under the banner of “Malvinas Year, memory justice and truth” the administration of President Cristina Fernandez is working for a major rally and demonstration of ‘rank and file” Malvinas veterans in Buenos Aires next 2 April, 30th anniversary of the Falklands/Malvinas invasion.
Monday, December 12th 2011 - 05:00 UTC
Murdoch’s News of the World had over 800 phones hacked, says Police

More than 800 people have had their telephones illegally hacked by the now-defunct News of the World tabloid, British police investigating the alleged practice said on Saturday.