Politics

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 22:53 UTC

  First obstacle for Uruguay's marijuana bill: it violates international convention on drug control

  

  Uruguay's decision to legalize marijuana is in violation of an international convention on drug control, the Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board, INCB, which monitors government compliance with such treaties said on Wednesday.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 22:45 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez completes all medical exams and prepares for her first flight in almost three months

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez underwent this week several medical exams which have revealed “normal results”, announced presidential spokesman Alfredo Scoccimarro at a press conference in Government House in Buenos Aires.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 06:23 UTC

  Paraguayan Senate accepts Venezuela as full member of Mercosur; praise from Brazil

  

  The Paraguayan Senate finally passed on Tuesday afternoon, with a large majority a protocol for including Venezuela as full member of Mercosur. The protocol, which was submitted to Congress by President Horacio Cartes, was supported 29-10.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 04:31 UTC

  Uruguay becomes first country to oversee production and sale of marijuana

  

  Uruguay's Senate has approved ground-breaking legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug. After a marathon debate, the 16 senators from the ruling coalition out of 29 lawmakers voted Tuesday in favor of the legislation championed by President Jose Mujica, who must now sign it into law.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 04:09 UTC

  Alejandro Betts, technical advisor of Tierra del Fuego Malvinas Observatory

  

  The Tierra del Fuego Malvinas Question Provincial Observatory Advisory Council held its last meeting of the year at the Malvinas Foundation building and among other issues named former Falklands Islander Alejandro Betts as Technical Advisor to the Observatory.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 04:01 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez blasts police: “I don't believe in coincidence nor in contagious events”

  

  Marking the 30th anniversary of the return of democracy to Argentina, President Cristina Fernández referred to the wave of lootings across the country and police force protests, and stated that “they were no coincidence”, during a rally from the Government House in Buenos Aires on Tuesday evening.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 00:06 UTC

  Beijing virtually 'takes over' the Caribbean island of Dominica

  

  Dominica and China have signed a new 300 million dollars cooperation agreement that includes the construction of a hotel, construction of an international airport and building a new hospital. The sum involved is equivalent to a third of the small Caribbean island GDP, which could mean Beijing virtually is 'purchasing' the small territory.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 00:02 UTC

  Santos says a 'cease fire' only when FARC signs the peace agreement

  

  Colombia's main leftist guerrilla group, the FARC, said today it would implement a 30-day ceasefire from December 15 while the government said it would keep pursuing the rebels after they attacked a police station killing eight.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 00:00 UTC

  World and FIFA shocked by violent incidents at a Brazilian championship match

  

  Shocking violence at a Brazilian championship match is not an indication of what can be expected when the South American country hosts next year's World Cup, FIFA and Brazilian government officials have declared.

• Tuesday, December 10th 2013 - 22:43 UTC

  Pacific Alliance conference on preventing corruption in public infrastructure projects

  

  With the support of the British Embassies in Peru, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica and Chile, representatives of these countries will participate in a meeting, focused on how to prevent unlawful practices in public infrastructure construction projects.