Politics

Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 03:48 UTC
Dictators’ illicit funds in Swiss banks will be returned to pillaged countries

A new law on returning illicit dictator funds that are deposited in Swiss banks has been approved by the Swiss parliament.
Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 03:43 UTC
Paraguayan president health condition causes unrest among lawmakers

Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo undergoing treatment for a lymphatic cancer is limiting activities to “administrative affairs” while a growing number of opposition lawmakers are seriously considering requesting his resignation or a larger share of responsibilities with his Vice-President Federico Franco.
Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 02:57 UTC
Uruguay feels Mercosur is a diplomatic club, still too distant from the people

Mercosur is currently a “Foreign Affairs ministries club” which has failed in getting people involved in the integration idea and process, said Uruguayan Foreign Secretary Luis Almagro during a press conference Monday at Government House.
Tuesday, September 14th 2010 - 00:46 UTC
Cuba with unions support announces elimination of 500.000 jobs to boost economy

The Cuban government will cut more than 500,000 state jobs by March as part of a plan to reduce inefficiencies, the country’s largest union said in a statement. The reductions are part of President Raúl Castro’s goal of eliminating 1 million state jobs by 2015, according to the statement.
Monday, September 13th 2010 - 22:17 UTC
EU Trade commissioner in Brazil to advance trade talks with Mercosur

European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht is expected in Brazil to advance trade talks with Mercosur. Brazil currently holds the Mercosur rotating chair. The top EU official will visit Argentina later in the week.
Monday, September 13th 2010 - 19:08 UTC
Riots and arrests on Chile’s coup anniversary, “but calmer than in previous years”

As President Sebastián Piñera spoke of national unity and moving past quarrels from recent history on the anniversary of the 11 September 1973 military coup that ousted democratically elected President Salvador Allende, protests and demonstrations occurred throughout Chile.
Monday, September 13th 2010 - 18:26 UTC
Protest intensifies in support of Mapuches held under law from Pinochet time

Four Chilean deputies were forcefully removed last week from a jail where hunger striking indigenous Mapuche prisoners are being held. The deputies had announced they too would join the strike.
Monday, September 13th 2010 - 18:15 UTC
Falklands challenge is Argentina’s ‘desire to steal what is ours’

A member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Council rebutted historical claims made by Argentina over the Islands in a speech to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Kenya this week, adding that the challenge Falkland Islanders face is Argentina’s “simple desire to steal what is ours.”
Monday, September 13th 2010 - 04:11 UTC
New Colombian president to redouble military offensive against guerrillas

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced he would “redouble” the military's offensive against Marxist-inspired, drugs financed FARC guerrillas after several attacks killed 40 police and military officers.
Monday, September 13th 2010 - 04:08 UTC
Brazilian press claim Rousseff’s closest aide was involved in a graft scheme

Brazil’s leading news magazine Veja accused presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff's former aide and current presidential chief of staff, Erenice Guerra, of involvement in a graft scheme.