Politics

• Tuesday, September 29th 2009 - 10:34 UTC

  Bag of claims inflation: Falklands, Cuba plus Diego García and Mayotte

  

  The recent second summit of South America and African leaders added to the traditional statements on the Falklands/Malvinas dispute and the US trade embargo on Cuba, similar demands referred to disputes over islands in the Indian Ocean involving Britain and France.

• Tuesday, September 29th 2009 - 07:50 UTC

  The party is over: Cubans are told to work harder and solve their problems

  

  Cubans should no longer “expect the government to solve all of its problems” and “should work hard and efficiently to overcome the crisis and ensure the continuity of the revolution” said Communications Minister Ramiro Valdes quoted with extensive coverage in Havana’s Sunday media.

• Tuesday, September 29th 2009 - 06:50 UTC

  US describes Zelaya’s actions “irresponsible and foolish”

  

  A top US diplomat says deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya was “irresponsible and foolish” to return before a settlement had been reached. Lewis Amselem, US ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), said Washington had asked Mr Zelaya not to return because of potential unrest. He called on him to urge his supporters to keep their protests peaceful.

• Tuesday, September 29th 2009 - 06:20 UTC

  Cristina Kirchner, the president with the lowest support in South America

  

  Presidents from El Salvador, Brazil, Chile, Panama and Colombia figure among the Latinamerican leaders with the highest ratings of support and Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in the bottom short list with 23%, according to the respected Mexican pollster Mitofsky Consultants, MC.

• Monday, September 28th 2009 - 15:15 UTC

  Germany's Merkel Set To Form New Coalition Govt

  

  German Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday prepares to form a new center-right government, after she won a second term in Sunday's general election.

• Monday, September 28th 2009 - 08:51 UTC

  Uruguayan president bans use of his image in the electoral campaign

  

  Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez banned the use of his image in the closing weeks of the country’s general election next October 25th. The decision was aired in the Uruguayan Presidency site and coincides with the lifting of the ban on political publicity in the media.

• Monday, September 28th 2009 - 08:43 UTC

  Obama’s internet-electoral-strategist contracted by Brazil’s ruling party

  

  The man who ran Barack Obama's game-changing Internet strategy US presidential campaign believes similar methods can transform Brazilian politics and help elect its first woman president, reports Reuters.

• Monday, September 28th 2009 - 08:39 UTC

  Brazilian Vice-President in favour of possession of nuclear weapons

  

  Brazil's Vice-President Jose Alencar has said possession of nuclear weapons would enable his country to deter potential aggressors and give the South American nation greater 'respectability' on the world stage, according to a media report from Sao Paulo.

• Monday, September 28th 2009 - 07:58 UTC

  Gaddafi proposed the creation of a South Atlantic military alliance

  

  Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi proposed a military alliance mirroring the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, to counteract the influence of the US and Europe during the second Africa-South America summit held over the weekend in Margarita island, Venezuela and which convened almost sixty leaders.

• Monday, September 28th 2009 - 07:37 UTC

  Brazil rejects “ultimatum” from Honduras de facto government

  

  Brazilian President Lula da Silva said on Sunday his nation would not comply with a demand from Honduras' de facto government to decide the status of ousted President Manuel Zelaya in 10 days.