Latin America

Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 19:02 UTC
Paraguay furious with Brazil for confirming Unasur suspension until August 2013

Paraguay declared “entirely unacceptable” statements from Brazilian Foreign minister Antonio Patriota who said that the April 2013 elections are “only an important step to re-examine” the country’s suspension from Unasur and Mercosur. Patriota’s statement was supported by Argentina.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 18:50 UTC
OAS and Peru will discuss how to address socio-environment conflict in mining areas

The Organization of American States (OAS) will hold, on December 6 and 7 in Lima, Peru, the Meeting of Government Experts on the Management of Socio-Environmental Conflict for the countries of Central America and the Andean Region.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 18:32 UTC
WHO sponsored research helps identify heavy lead contaminated areas in Peru

Countries – especially those with a long mining history -- can substantially reduce lead poisoning in children by mapping contamination levels in the soil to identify high-risk areas and by taking measures to keep children away from those areas, according to a study published this month in the public health journal, the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 18:26 UTC
Chevron dispute with Ecuador discussed by Correa with Cristina Fernandez

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said he discussed with his Argentine counterpart Cristina Fernandez the legal dispute with US oil giant Chevron that has spilled over into her country.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 17:20 UTC
Argentine Jewish organizations slam President Correa ‘disdainful words’ towards terrorist attacks’ victims

Argentine Jewish organizations strongly criticized Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa after he defended the Iranian government, comparing the 85 people killed in the 1994 AMIA attacks in Buenos Aires with the victims of “NATO bombings in Libya” in 2011.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 05:22 UTC
Dealing with Argentina “one of the most painful problems” admits President Mujica

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica confessed that dealing with neighbouring Argentina is “one of the most painful problems” faced by his administration given the weight of the Argentine economy.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 05:15 UTC
Correa defends close links with Iran and downplays the AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires

Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa triggered a serious controversy in Argentina when he defended close links with Iran and downplayed Teheran’s alleged role in the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish institution in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people and left hundreds injured.
Wednesday, December 5th 2012 - 05:08 UTC
Human rights commission demands urgent investigation into killing of Paraguayan peasant leader

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the murder in Paraguay of human rights defender Vidal Vega, leader of the Campesinos sin Tierra movement (Landless Campesinos) and president of the Committee of Relatives of Victims of the Curuguaty Massacre and urges the State of Paraguay to investigate and clear up these crimes, and punish those who perpetrated and masterminded them.
Tuesday, December 4th 2012 - 18:34 UTC
OAS envoy open support for Paraguayan president Franco and electoral process

The head of the Organization of Americas States, OAS electoral observers’ mission said that Federico Franco was the legitimate democratic president of Paraguay committed to holding transparent elections next April, elections which nobody in the world questions.
Tuesday, December 4th 2012 - 16:10 UTC
Mexico strikes largest on land light oil deposit in a decade

Mexico’s government oil and gas giant Pemex confirmed the discovery of a crude reserve which could hold over 500 million barrels, and described as the largest on land strike in the last decade.