Politics

• Wednesday, July 6th 2011 - 06:15 UTC

  Chile among South America’s least happy nations; Venezuela top of the list

  

  Though Chile has one of South America’s strongest economies, a recent study of happiness rates it second-to-last in the region, leading experts to assert that national happiness is not determined by a nation’s wealth or economic development.

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 19:28 UTC

  Ireland anticipates rejection of EU/Mercosur trade accord on beef

  

  The Irish government is expecting a report from the European Commission setting out the economic impact on Eire of a potential trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur.

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 19:13 UTC

  When Falklands and the World Cup 1982 nerve-wracked the Foreign Office

  

  According to recently released document the government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher wanted Scotland to crash out of the 1982 World Cup in Spain in an attempt to avoid a diplomatic headache over the Falklands conflict.

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 19:00 UTC

  Statue of President Reagan, crucial ally of Mrs Thatcher, unveiled in London

  

  A statue of former US President Ronald Reagan has been unveiled at a ceremony outside the American embassy in central London. The invited guests include former UK Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher - who was a close ally of Reagan when they were both in power in the 1980s.

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 18:50 UTC

  Brazil and UK discuss defence cooperation and Atlantic security in London

  

  Strengthening Brazil-UK defence cooperation agreement and building Atlantic and wider security are among the issues to be addressed by UK and Brazil during the three day visit of Defence minister Dr Nelson Jobim to Britain

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 16:29 UTC

  How seafood, oil and tourism made ’squidionaires’ and the Falklands’ rich

  

  Caroline Graham from London's Mail on Sunday visited the Falkland Islands for a week and chance had it she arrived when a commercial oil strike was announced by one of the several companies exploring offshore the Islands.

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 06:08 UTC

  President Rousseff relations with 10 party coalition remain strained

  

  The six-month old administration of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s is again under strain following on her strong character reactions, thus casting doubts about the passing of her legislative agenda, which is already considerably delayed.

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 05:57 UTC

  Uruguay re-opens human rights violations from the 1973/1985 military regime

  

  Uruguay’s government announced June 27 that it will reopen more than 80 human rights violations allegedly committed during the 1973-85 military dictatorship. The decision follows a long legislative battle but nevertheless remains highly controversial since the latest opinion polls indicate a majority of Uruguayans, 55%, want an end to the discussion.

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 03:23 UTC

  June’s index shows result of Uruguay’s battle with inflation remains uncertain

  

  Uruguay consumer prices increased 0.35% in June, completing 8.61% in the last twelve months, which remains above the Central bank target of 4% to 6%, and the latest estimate of 7.8% presented last week by the Executive in its additional budget report to Congress.

• Tuesday, July 5th 2011 - 00:20 UTC

  Paraguay and Uruguay claim Argentina is obstructing regional power agreement

  

  Argentina is delaying the sale of Paraguayan power to the Uruguayan market (which must cross Argentine territory) for reasons ‘as least publicly’ unknown for both sides interested in the deal, according to the Uruguayan and Paraguayan press.