Politics

• Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 14:25 UTC

  Falklands’ oil and Argentina: “the potential prize made the risk worth taking”

  

  Alan Huckle retires this month as Governor of the Falkland Island. In an interview with Mercopress Mr. Huckle recalls some of the outstanding events of his mandate: a solemn, dignified 25th anniversary of the 1982 conflict; constitutional reform which transferred even greater responsibility to the Falklands elected Councilors and oil, “an issue not yet played out”.

• Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 03:55 UTC

  OPEC born in Baghdad in 1960 with five members, changed the energy world

  

  The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries turns 50 years old Tuesday having survived a tumultuous history of wars, embargoes and in-fighting. The world’s oldest and largest energy producer group is now enjoying prices close to the 75 USD a barrel level that its largest member Saudi Arabia considers “ideal.”

• Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 03:50 UTC

  IMF warns no financial crisis is over with a “wasteland of unemployment”

  

  The global recession has created a “wasteland of unemployment” that is likely to leave scars on society for years to come, unless action is taken to address the jobs crisis, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned.

• Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 03:48 UTC

  Dictators’ illicit funds in Swiss banks will be returned to pillaged countries

  

  A new law on returning illicit dictator funds that are deposited in Swiss banks has been approved by the Swiss parliament.

• Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 03:43 UTC

  Paraguayan president health condition causes unrest among lawmakers

  

  Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo undergoing treatment for a lymphatic cancer is limiting activities to “administrative affairs” while a growing number of opposition lawmakers are seriously considering requesting his resignation or a larger share of responsibilities with his Vice-President Federico Franco.

• Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 02:57 UTC

  Uruguay feels Mercosur is a diplomatic club, still too distant from the people

  

  Mercosur is currently a “Foreign Affairs ministries club” which has failed in getting people involved in the integration idea and process, said Uruguayan Foreign Secretary Luis Almagro during a press conference Monday at Government House.

• Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 00:46 UTC

  Cuba with unions support announces elimination of 500.000 jobs to boost economy

  

  The Cuban government will cut more than 500,000 state jobs by March as part of a plan to reduce inefficiencies, the country’s largest union said in a statement. The reductions are part of President Raúl Castro’s goal of eliminating 1 million state jobs by 2015, according to the statement.

• Monday, September 13th 2010 - 22:17 UTC

  EU Trade commissioner in Brazil to advance trade talks with Mercosur

  

  European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht is expected in Brazil to advance trade talks with Mercosur. Brazil currently holds the Mercosur rotating chair. The top EU official will visit Argentina later in the week.

• Monday, September 13th 2010 - 19:08 UTC

  Riots and arrests on Chile’s coup anniversary, “but calmer than in previous years”

  

  As President Sebastián Piñera spoke of national unity and moving past quarrels from recent history on the anniversary of the 11 September 1973 military coup that ousted democratically elected President Salvador Allende, protests and demonstrations occurred throughout Chile.

• Monday, September 13th 2010 - 18:26 UTC

  Protest intensifies in support of Mapuches held under law from Pinochet time

  

  Four Chilean deputies were forcefully removed last week from a jail where hunger striking indigenous Mapuche prisoners are being held. The deputies had announced they too would join the strike.