Politics

• Monday, December 10th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Falklands' claim and multilateralism, CK's foreign policy punch

  

  ”We once again call on the occupying country which in international forums plays as advanced and respectful that here (in Argentina) we still have a colonial enclave”, was incoming President Cristina Kirchner's, CK, direct reference to the Falkland Islands in her inaugural speech before Congress on Monday.

• Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivian assembly approves new draft constitution

  

  A special Bolivian constituent assembly approved this weekend a new draft constitution, despite a boycott by the main opposition party. Bolivians will now have a chance to vote on the changes in a national referendum next year.

• Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil's vision of Mercosur includes all of South America

  

  Changes in Argentina are an opportunity for closer political links and economic ties with Brazil while the two leading South American countries work in the construction of a Mercosur extending from the Caribbean to Patagonia, said Brazil's Foreign Affairs minister Celso Amorim.

• Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Bank of the South is born in B. A. among leaders' cheers

  

  Six South American presidents launched Sunday in Buenos Aires the Bank of the South, the region's answer to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund as a source for development funds.

• Saturday, December 8th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Falklands' RAF gunners monument unveiled in Honington

  A former head of the RAF said he hoped air force gunners would get the credit they deserved after unveiling a monument in Honington to commemorate their contribution in the Falklands Islands, reports the East Anglia Daily Times.

• Saturday, December 8th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Buenos Aires prepares for Kirchners ceremony on Monday

  

  Hours before the first elected woman president takes office in Argentina, the preparations for the ceremony are underway. The preparations in Buenos Aires Colón Square, where the outdoors ceremony is due to take place, were finished on Thursday and foreign heads of state are currently arriving in Buenos Aires city to participate in Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's inauguration.

• Friday, December 7th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Referendum challenge to the opposition from Bolivia's Morales

  

  Bolivian President Evo Morales has called for a referendum on whether he and the country's nine regional governors should stay in office. Mr Morales said the vote should provide the final word on his reform program, which several governors oppose.

• Friday, December 7th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina's Executive economic emergency powers on hold

  

  The Argentine Senate this week passed into law the 2008 budget and the Ministries bill, but delayed for next week's session the vote on the extension of the Economic Emergency bill and other tax bills.

• Friday, December 7th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Lesson One: how do you say Panama Canal in Chinese?

  

  Panama is moving to make the teaching of Mandarin compulsory in all schools, in recognition of China's growing importance in the world economy. The Panamanian National Assembly has given conditional approval to the bill in the first of three debates.

• Friday, December 7th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update

  

  Headlines: Frankenstein and Dracula in love duel? It must be panto season!; 'FIG needs economic rethink' Former Economic Advisor urges: 'Take a longer term view; ' Fishing company's application fails; Battle Day parade and holiday.