Stories for September 3rd 2013

Tuesday, September 3rd 2013 - 23:53 UTC
Colombia/FARC peace talks at a ‘critical’ stage says government negotiator

Colombia's peace talks with Marxist FARC rebels have reached a “critical” stage, with discussions over the next couple of months a key gauge of whether an end to five decades of war is likely or not, government negotiator Sergio Jaramillo said on Tuesday.
Tuesday, September 3rd 2013 - 23:45 UTC
Leading industrialist tells Cristina Fernandez to abide by the rules of democracy, otherwise it is ‘Chavism’

Deputy Chairman of the Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) Cristiano Ratazzi said that President Cristina Fernández “should leave office once her term ends” because those are the rules of democracy, otherwise it is ‘Chavism’.
Tuesday, September 3rd 2013 - 23:35 UTC
Cristina Fernandez flies to G-20 in Russia on Tango 01, but changes aircraft in Morocco

Argentine President Cristina Fernández left on Tuesday for Russia to attend the G20 summit to begin next Thursday at the Constantine Palace in Saint Petersburg. The president flew on her office’s Tango 01 to Morocco where she changed aircraft to avoid any possible injunction from hedge funds on the presidential transport.
Tuesday, September 3rd 2013 - 23:25 UTC
Blackout leaves half of Venezuela in the dark; Maduro claims an “electrical coup”

President Nicolas Maduro blamed Venezuela’s right-wing opposition for what he called “sabotage” and an ‘electrical coup’ that he said caused blackouts that plunged much of the country into chaos.
Tuesday, September 3rd 2013 - 23:17 UTC
Gibraltar diplomatic conflict “an important fire” says Spain, but friendship with UK must prevail

Spanish Foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo addressing parliament on Tuesday described the current diplomatic conflict with the UK as an ‘important fire’ and blamed it on three apparently minor incidents: Gibraltar authorities having dropped the agreement with Spanish fishermen a year ago; the recent dumping of cement blocks in the bay of Algeciras (Gibraltar) and the construction of a new reef.
Tuesday, September 3rd 2013 - 01:49 UTC
President Santos prepares for the last leg of his four year mandate

The Colombian ministerial cabinet presented on Monday a protocol resignation to President Juan Manuel Santos so that the leader can make the necessary changes as his administration prepares for the last year of his mandate, according to Palacio Nariño sources.
Tuesday, September 3rd 2013 - 01:42 UTC
Colombia government warns effective peace conditions with FARC could take ten years

The head of the Colombian negotiation team Humberto de la Calle cautioned on Monday that in case a definitive agreement is reached with the FARC rebel forces, (Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces), peace could reach ten years after the ratification of the accord.
Tuesday, September 3rd 2013 - 01:37 UTC
Paraguay insists in reviewing all decisions adopted by Mercosur during its 14-month suspension

Foreign minister Eladio Loizaga said Paraguay will hold before Mercosur the same position it sustained at the Unasur summit in Suriname requesting that all decisions adopted during the last year and two months in which the country was suspended, are formally analyzed.
Tuesday, September 3rd 2013 - 01:33 UTC
Journalist Greenwald promises more revelations on the NSA spying network

The US National Security Agency also intercepted text messages by Mexico’s Enrique Peña Nieto in which the then-presidential front-runner discusses two possible cabinet picks, journalist Glenn Greenwald said on Sunday night’s show ‘Fantastico’, citing a 24-slide presentation. Peña Nieto assumed office in December 2012.
Tuesday, September 3rd 2013 - 01:29 UTC
Brazil outraged with NSA spying waiting for a ‘satisfactory reply’ from Obama

Brazilian president Dilma Roussef is considering at least three reactions to the US government following allegations that the US National Security Agency, NSA, spy program targeted the president, her ministers and advisors as revealed by the O Globo television program ‘Fantastico’. Earlier on Monday US Ambassador Thomas Shannon was summoned by Foreign minister Luiz Alberto Figuereido.