Politics

Wednesday, August 15th 2012 - 23:40 UTC
World Health Organization praises Australia’s high court ruling on cigarette packaging

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday it strongly welcomes the landmark decision from Australia’s High Court to dismiss a legal challenge from the tobacco industry, and calls on the rest of the world to follow Australia’s tough stance on tobacco marketing.
Wednesday, August 15th 2012 - 09:43 UTC
Unasur ratifies sanctions; Paraguay president more concerned with OAS position

Unasur ratified on Tuesday Paraguay’s suspension from the block at a meeting of the so called High Level Group in Lima, Peru which assessed the situation of the landlocked country.
Wednesday, August 15th 2012 - 09:37 UTC
Cristina Fernandez calls workers and companies to be “more rational”

Argentine President Cristina Fernández said on Tuesday that there has always been “clashes and discussions” between companies and their workers but called on both parties to be “rational enough since they need each other in order to avoid collapsing, something we all experienced during the 2002 crisis.”
Wednesday, August 15th 2012 - 09:32 UTC
Mujica support falls to 39%; pot and Mercosur sanctions on Paraguay weighed

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica approval plummeted to 39% in July, the lowest since taking office among other reasons for his plan to de-criminalize marihuana and his handling of the controversy with Argentina, according to the latest public opinion poll made public this week.
Wednesday, August 15th 2012 - 09:10 UTC
Paraguayan president calls for moderation from the Senate on the Venezuela issue

Paraguayan president Federico Franco called for moderation and time from members of Congress when they begin considering Venezuela’s request to become a full member of Mercosur, since the issue needs of “a good in depth analysis and no hasty decision”.
Wednesday, August 15th 2012 - 09:02 UTC
Puricelli praises defence links with Chile and support for Argentine Malvinas claim

Relations with Chile are an example of the fabulous transformation of regional politics in the last three decades, said Argentine Defence minister Arturo Puricelli during a conference at the Chilean military school.
Wednesday, August 15th 2012 - 08:54 UTC
Brazilian court listens to natives claims and suspends work on Belo Monte dam

A Brazilian federal court has ordered the immediate suspension of work on the controversial Belo Monte hydroelectric plant, ruling that indigenous communities were not consulted. It was set to be the world's third-largest dam.
Wednesday, August 15th 2012 - 08:50 UTC
Students and police clash in Santiago; mayor threatens to cancel protestors scholarships

For a third day running Chilean riot police broke up protests by students who had taken control of several high schools in the capital Santiago to demand education reform.
Tuesday, August 14th 2012 - 22:10 UTC
US, France and Mexico considering G20 emergency meeting to address soaring grain prices

US, France and Mexico are planning talks to consider whether an emergency meeting is needed to tackle the soaring price of grain. The three will hold a conference call at the end of this month after the worst US drought in 50 years threatens to cause a sharp rise in the cost of staple crops.
Tuesday, August 14th 2012 - 22:01 UTC
Standard Chartered CEO in US to discuss money laundering allegations

Standard Chartered chief executive is in New York to negotiate directly with the US regulator that accused it of “scheming” to hide 250bn dollars of transactions with Iran. The regulator will hold a hearing on Wednesday to decide whether to revoke the bank's New York banking licence. It is unclear yet whether Peter Sands will attend the hearing.