Politics

• Monday, November 29th 2010 - 05:02 UTC

  Europe confirms 85 billion Euros for Ireland; unveils Stability Mechanism

  

  European ministers reached Sunday an agreement over a bail-out for the Irish Republic worth about 85 billion Euros. The deal will see 35bn euros go towards propping up the Irish banking system with the remaining 50bn euros to help the government's day-to-day spending.

• Monday, November 29th 2010 - 04:53 UTC

  Brazilian forces expel criminal gangs from favels; promise to stay

  

  Public Security Secretary Jose Mariano Beltrame described the police raid on the Alemao Complex, known as “heart of the evil,” as a success. The criminals lost not only their territory, but also a huge amount of weapons, drugs, vehicles and other possessions, he said.

• Saturday, November 27th 2010 - 13:24 UTC

  Ecuador and Colombia re-establish full diplomatic relations

  

  The presidents of Colombia and Ecuador announced Friday they will resume full diplomatic relations after more than two years of estrangement.

• Saturday, November 27th 2010 - 12:06 UTC

  Unasur unable to agree on secretary; closes all ports to ‘illegal’ Malvinas flagged vessels

  

  The presidents of Unasur (Union of South American Nations) meeting at a summit in Guyana paid homage to former president Nestor Kirchner, agreed to incorporate a “democratic clause” to the group’s charter, left for next month a decision on who will be named the next secretary general and had a special mention to the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the UK. Argentina also revealed that the post should be occupied by an Argentine.

• Saturday, November 27th 2010 - 00:23 UTC

  Argentine Falklands top expert Ambassador Garcia del Solar dies in Buenos Aires

  

  One of Argentina’s main experts on Falklands/Malvinas affairs Lucio Garcia del Solar and former ambassador before the United Nation, United States, the former Soviet Union and UNESCO, among other diplomatic posts died Friday morning in Buenos Aires.

• Friday, November 26th 2010 - 16:25 UTC

  Mantega proposes “diluted” inflation index with no fuel or food items included

  

  Brazil Finance minister Guido Mantega is proposing a “dehydrated” inflation index with the purpose of reducing interest rates faster under the incoming administration of president-elect Dilma Rousseff, reports the influential O Estado de Sao Paulo.

• Friday, November 26th 2010 - 15:04 UTC

  Rio’s favelas war has full support and logistics from the federal government

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva promised full support from the federal government to Rio de Janeiro authorities involved in a clean-up operation to free the city’s shanty towns, favelas, from drug traffickers and organized crime.

• Friday, November 26th 2010 - 14:55 UTC

  Lula da Silva promises energy, communications and trade aid for Guyana

  

  Brazilian President Lula da Silva announced Friday an ambitious integration program for its northern neighbor Guyana, on the sidelines of a regional presidential summit taking place in Georgetown.

• Friday, November 26th 2010 - 14:47 UTC

  Venezuela pays 690m USD for 81% of French Casino supermarkets in the country

  

  Venezuela agreed to pay Casino Guichard-Perrachon SA 690 million US dollars for an 81% stake in the Saint-Etienne, France-based company’s local supermarkets, said Elias Jaua, vice president of the Venezuela’s official news agency, AVN.

• Friday, November 26th 2010 - 05:39 UTC

  Unasur ministers reach consensus on a “democratic clause”

  

  Unasur Foreign Affairs ministers meeting in Guyana reached on Thursday a consensus on a “democratic clause” to be incorporated to the group’s charter with the purpose of preventing coups in the region. The draft will be officially presented to the twelve nations’ presidential summit.