Politics

Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UK Minister Gillian Merron on three day visit to Brazil

British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign Office Gillian Merron is currently in Brazil for a three-day trip with stops in Brasília, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, according to a release from the Foreign Office.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Insulza admits he wants to become Chilean president

Jose Miguel Insulza, secretary-general of the Organization of American States, OAS, said on Thursday he plans to run for the presidency of his native Chile, where the ruling centre-left coalition is faltering in polls.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Tentative agreement for second EU Ireland referendum

The way could be cleared for Ireland to hold a second referendum on the European Union's Lisbon Treaty by October 2009, a draft statement by EU leaders said Thursday.

The statement grants several major concessions to Dublin in an effort to convince Irish voters of the merits of adopting the reforming treaty, which attempts to streamline decision-making within the 27-member bloc.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Bones remains found in Argentine former detention centre

More than 10,000 bone fragments have been unearthed at a secret Argentine detention centre in the city of La Plata where political dissidents allegedly were held and tortured during Argentina's dictatorship, 1976/1983.
Wednesday, December 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Congo and rebels enter UN backed talks to end fighting

United Nations-backed talks between the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a main rebel militia kicked off Tuesday, in a bid to end the upsurge in the fighting which has uprooted an additional 250,000 people in country's far east.
Wednesday, December 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UN: Sixty years on Human Rights still not a reality for all

The promises enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) remain unfilled for tens of millions of people worldwide, the top United Nations human rights official said on the eve of the December 10th landmark document's 60th anniversary.
Wednesday, December 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
France receives first couple of former Colombian rebels

A young Colombian rebel who won hero status for freeing a kidnapped politician headed for France on Tuesday accompanied by his girlfriend, the world's most celebrated ex-hostage and a fat reward check.
Wednesday, December 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chilean “limited” cabinet reshuffle as election year looms

A “limited” cabinet reshuffle is expected this week in Chile following the resignations of Labour minister Osvaldo Andrade and Deputy Interior minister Felipe Harboe, announced Minister of Interior Edmundo Perez Yoma on Wednesday.
Wednesday, December 10th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Mercosur “is virtually fractured” Uruguay admits openly

Mercosur presidential summit next week in Brazil has on the table an agenda of several highly sensitive issues that could deepen the rift between senior members Argentina and Brazil and junior members Paraguay and Uruguay, according to Uruguayan parliamentary sources.
Tuesday, December 9th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Presidential hopefuls inflation in Uruguayan ruling coalition

Uruguay's ruling coalition Broad Front opened the way for a short list of five presidential pre candidates to compete for the official candidacy for the coming general election in October 2009. The decision was taken over the week-end at a national plenary of the coalition with 172 delegates from all the country