Politics

• Monday, June 10th 2013 - 22:01 UTC

  Ex-CIA employee leaked info “to protect basic liberties for people around the world”

  

  An ex-CIA employee has said he acted to “protect basic liberties for people around the world” in leaking details of US phone and internet surveillance. Edward Snowden, 29, was revealed as the source of the leaks at his own request by the UK's Guardian newspaper.

• Monday, June 10th 2013 - 21:43 UTC

  Bachelet pledges new legitimate, transparent constitution, plus fiscal and education reforms

  

  Former Chilean president (2006/2010) and Socialist candidate, Michelle Bachelet (61), pledged to elaborate a new constitution during her first year in office, if she is elected in the coming November presidential election.

• Monday, June 10th 2013 - 12:41 UTC

  Brazilian economy eroding Rousseff’s support, but remains favourite for 2014 election

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's approval rating fell for the first time since her term began in January 2011 as concern about inflation and sluggish economic growth grew. Rousseff's presidency was rated as “good” or “excellent” fell to 57% from 65% in the previous poll.

• Monday, June 10th 2013 - 11:43 UTC

  Malvinas: Argentina remembers Rights reaffirmation Day and calls on UK to resume negotiations

  

  Argentina reaffirmed on Monday its “inalienable right” over the Malvinas and other South Atlantic Islands, and its “strong will to promptly restart negotiations with the United Kingdom” over the what it considers to be an “unacceptable and anachronic colonial situation”. Argentina also complains about the March referendum held in the Falklands last March.

• Saturday, June 8th 2013 - 06:25 UTC

  Venezuelan 12 month inflation reaches 35.2%; prospects of food rationing

  

  With inflation in May reaching 6.1%, the highest monthly rate in 17 years, mostly because of the shortage of basic foods, some states in Venezuela are already planning food rationing fearing the situation could worsen. The Venezuela's Central Bank released the figure on Friday.

• Saturday, June 8th 2013 - 06:23 UTC

  OAS assembly calls for new multi disciplinary approach to the drug problem

  

  Member States from of the Organization of American States (OAS), meeting in Antigua, Guatemala at the 43rd General Assembly, declared on Friday “that it is essential that the Hemisphere continue to advance in a coordinated manner in the search for effective solutions to the world drug problem with a comprehensive integrated, strengthened, balanced and multidisciplinary approach with full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

• Saturday, June 8th 2013 - 06:20 UTC

  Low birth rate and ageing population have become Chile’s “demographic seism”

  

  President Sebastián Piñera expressed great concern over the “demographic seism” facing Chile because of the low birth rate and ageing population, during an event at Government House where he announced some of the initiatives taken by his government.

• Saturday, June 8th 2013 - 06:18 UTC

  Piñera blasts environmental licensing for giant Pascua-Lama gold mine project

  

  Chilean President Sebastian Piñera blasted the environmental review process that led to a permit for Barrick Gold’s, now-suspended 8.5 billion dollar Pascua-Lama gold mine project.

• Friday, June 7th 2013 - 23:45 UTC

  Brazil’s inflation still at 6.5% upper; Central bank determined to contain prices

  

  Consumer prices edged up 0.3% in Brazil last month, fuelled by higher medicine, clothing and housing prices, with 12-month inflation at 6.5%, the state statistics agency said on Friday. The May increase, in line with market analysts' forecasts, was lower than the 0.5% recorded in April and the lowest since June 2012.

• Friday, June 7th 2013 - 23:42 UTC

  AI calls on Hague for talks with Colombia more focused on human rights and less on trade

  

  Amnesty International said that British authorities in their meetings with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos should not allow a ‘focus on commercial diplomacy to come at the cost of raising human rights. President Santos is basically on a business and trade visit to the UK, but is also expected to address issues of ‘security and intelligence”.