Politics

Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:45 UTC
Business as usual says North Korea regime; calls Seoul politicians ‘foolish puppets’

North Korea sounded on Friday a bellicose note in its first communication with the outside world since the death of leader Kim Jong-il, saying its confrontational stance against South Korea would not change and labelling its opponents “foolish.”
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:39 UTC
New Spanish government announces draconian measures to balance the budget

Spain's new government revealed on Friday that the public deficit for 2011 would come in at 8% of GDP, well above a target of 6%, and announced income and property tax hikes and a civil servant wage freeze in response.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 21:34 UTC
Buenos Aires City becomes 100% smoke-free in public places

The City of Buenos Aires put forth the steps to become 100% smoke-free, after amendments were made to the anti-tobacco laws, totally prohibiting the use of smoking areas in restaurants and bars in Argentina’s capital.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:36 UTC
Uruguay suggests changing to the red ensign for Falklands’ vessels to operate in Montevideo

No changes are needed in current legislation to bar vessels flying the Malvinas flag from entering Uruguayan ports, but Uruguay also speculates that if the vessels change to the English flag there will be no problems, according to a report from the Foreign Affairs ministry.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:28 UTC
Argentine ambassador who ignores basic facts on the Falklands takes office in Washington

Ambassador Jorge Argüello arrived Thursday to Washington and immediately began activities as head of the Argentine embassy before the US with a first round of talks with members of his staff, according to a release from the embassy.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:24 UTC
Lan Argentina protests barring of its operations from Buenos Aires metropolitan air terminal

Lan Chile airlines admitted on Thursday before the Chilean Securities and Exchange Commission that the decision by the Argentina’s Civil Aviation authority, ANAC, to revoke Lan Argentina flight authorizations to Brazil, Paraguay and Chile from Buenos Aires metropolitan airport Jorge Newbery “would not have a relevant financial impact for Lan Airlines at consolidated level
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:17 UTC
Organized labour relations with President Cristina Fernandez are ‘all suspended’

“There are no contacts at all of any kind with the government, they have been all suspended” said on Thursday the Deputy Secretary of the Argentine powerful teamsters union Pablo Moyano when asked about current relations between organized labour and the administration of President Cristina Fernandez.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:07 UTC
Riots and institutional crisis in Cristina Fernandez Santa Cruz province

Argentine President Cristina Fernández had to postpone on Thursday plans to fly to Santa Cruz where she is planning to spend New Year’s Eve with her son and daughter, following an institutional crisis and street rioting that left at least 23 injured and the resignation of several top posts in the provincial administration.
Friday, December 30th 2011 - 06:03 UTC
New York Times major blooper sends e-mails to 8 million instead of 300 people

Some 8 million people received emails from the New York Times on Thursday offering a special discount if they would reconsider their decision to cancel their subscriptions.
Thursday, December 29th 2011 - 23:29 UTC
Venezuela has highest murder rate of South America, worse than Colombia

President Hugo Chavez Venezuela is on track to set a new record for murders and to remain South America's most violent country, according to data released by a crime watchdog. The Venezuela Violence Monitor (OVV) said this week that 19 336 people had been murdered in 2011, an average of 53 per day in a country of 29 million.