Politics

• Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 06:52 UTC

  Controversial questions on Ecuadorian referendum falling short of approval

  

  The latest official data from Ecuador's referendum vote shows a slim margin in favor of the 'No' vote on two of the most controversial questions which relate to the judicial system and the media. Critics say the questions seek to curb press freedom and judicial independence.

• Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 06:46 UTC

  Pilots linked to Argentina’s “death flights” and killing of French nuns arrested

  

  Three former Argentine Coast Guard officers, a former sailor and a solicitor were arrested this week on charges of involvement in the so called ‘death flights’ and the killing of a French-born nun and four other women during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship, according to a federal court report.

• Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 06:28 UTC

  Cuban blacks and mulattos the main victims of Raul Castro’s reforms

  

  Cuban blacks and mulattos will suffer the most with the elimination of a million government jobs, which could easily become a racial problem, consequence of the radical reforms imposed, and ‘must be addressed as a priority’, points out a report from Cuban academic Esteban Morales.

• Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 06:09 UTC

  World Cups 2018/2022 corruption claims widens; FIFA asks for evidence

  

  FIFA has requested evidence from England's Football Association following claims from its former chairman of corruption by four top-level members of world soccer's governing body.

• Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 05:34 UTC

  UK/France ratify Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty

  

  UK Defence Secretary Dr Liam Fox played host on Tuesday to his French counterpart in London to exchange the ratified Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty between the two countries.

• Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 01:05 UTC

  Argentine organized labour ignores CFK, blames corporate world for ‘conflicts’

  

  Argentine organized labour blamed “businessmen in the corporate world” for the level of labour conflict in the country and demanded “more responsibility”. The statement follows on President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Tuesday’s suggestion that the umbrella union organization, CGT, should lower their levels of confrontation.

• Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 00:48 UTC

  EU/Mercosur trade talks remain at “technical level and delayed until end of the year”

  

  Reports from the European Union and Mercosur confirm that negotiations for a trade agreement remain at ‘technical level’ and no information will be forthcoming until both sides have agreed on the lists of products to be exchanged.

• Wednesday, May 11th 2011 - 08:10 UTC

  IISS: cross-border sanctuaries have been key for the survival of Colombia’s FARC

  

  The ability of Colombia’s largest insurgent group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC), to rely on cross-border sanctuaries has long been key to its survival, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

• Wednesday, May 11th 2011 - 08:00 UTC

  Chile will become first develop country in Latam, says world’s richest man

  

  Chile will become the first developed country in Latin America, predicted Mexican communications mogul Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world, in an economic presentation given in Honduras last Thursday.

• Wednesday, May 11th 2011 - 07:36 UTC

  Obama impassionate call for immigration reform next to US/Mexico border

  

  President Barack Obama issued an impassioned call for immigration reform in a speech at the US-Mexican border on Tuesday, sending a message to Hispanics whose votes he needs to win re-election next year.