Politics

• Wednesday, April 22nd 2009 - 12:02 UTC

  Protectionism debate heats up among Argentine manufacturers

  

  Argentine manufacturers are openly divided over “protectionist practices” to face the current global slowdown. While a member of the board of the powerful Argentine Industrial Union, UIA argued that Argentina is ignoring the lessons of the 1929 crisis, other organizations claim ensuring domestic industry and employment must be priorities.

• Wednesday, April 22nd 2009 - 03:34 UTC

  Open government files: Chile inaugurates public scrutiny bill

  

  Chile’s new Transparency Law, obligating the government to divulge millions of documents for public scrutiny, including how much each politician earns, came into effect on Sunday.

• Wednesday, April 22nd 2009 - 03:14 UTC

  Argentina continental shelf presentation includes Falklands

  

  Argentina officially presented this week before United Nations its continental shelf claims which if approved will extend the country’s sovereign limit on the sea bed from 200 to 350 miles. The request includes all those areas claimed by Argentina: Falklands/Malvinas, South Atlantic islands and the so called Argentine Antarctic Territory.

• Wednesday, April 22nd 2009 - 02:00 UTC

  British government set to cut MPs “second home allowance”

  

  The controversial second home allowance for British members of Parliament could be axed within days after Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanded an urgent Commons vote on reforms.

• Wednesday, April 22nd 2009 - 01:44 UTC

  Paraguayan president, former bishop, accused of “raping a minor”

  

  A Paraguayan leading opposition senator filed a “ravish claim” before the country’s Prosecution Office involving President Fernando Lugo and Viviana Carrillo who was a minor when allegedly she had sexual relations with the then bishop of San Pedro. Lugo publicly admitted last week having fathered a child, now two year old and named Fernando, with Viviana.

• Wednesday, April 22nd 2009 - 00:46 UTC

  Latinamerican praise for Obama’s performance at the summit

  

  Although “deeds must follow words”, the world’s “honey moon” with President Obama has extended to Latinamerica following his display at the Summit of the Americas where he managed to modify substantially the emphasis of the region’s leaders towards the new administration, according to different analysts.

• Wednesday, April 22nd 2009 - 00:42 UTC

  Spain calls on EU partners for greater interest in Latinamerica

  

  Spain’s Foreign Affairs minister Miguel Angel Moratinos has called on other members of the European Union to follow the example of United States and leave aside the lack of interest on having an intense relation with Latinamerica.

• Tuesday, April 21st 2009 - 19:07 UTC

  Chavez not only gave Obama a book...but also an Island in New Jersey

  

  Last Sunday, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, announced during the Summit of the Americas that the Venezuelan Government will donate to United States, through CITGO Petroleum company, the Petty's Island located in New Jersey state.

• Tuesday, April 21st 2009 - 16:25 UTC

  Britain's Queen Elizabeth II turns 83

  

  The monarch will be spending the day privately at Windsor Castle with the Duke of Edinburgh.

• Tuesday, April 21st 2009 - 10:30 UTC

  Obama eager to finalize trade agreements with Panama and Colombia

  

  United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk said private meetings with Panama and Colombia presidents during the recent Summit of the Americas in Trinidad Tobago had been “very productive” and reiterated that the Obama administration is eager in finalizing free trade agreements with both countries.