Politics

• Tuesday, July 10th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Pope confirms Patagonian Mapuche native en route to beatification

  

  Pope Benedict XVI signed last week a decree declaring the upcoming beatification of an Argentine Mapuche native from Patagonia. Ceferino Namuncurá, son of a native chieftain and student of the Salesian order of priests was born in the province of Rio Negro August 26, 1886 and died at Rome on November 11, 1905.

• Tuesday, July 10th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Strong Spanish lobbying before G 24 limits self determination

  

  The extent of indifference, political pragmatism and sustained pressure with lobbying from Spain which led to the UN Decolonization Committee of 24 adopting a Grenada seminar report that effectively recognizes territorial integrity arguments as a bar to self-determination, has emerged.

• Sunday, July 8th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Increasing support (and challenges) for Mrs. Kirchner presidential bid

  

  A week after Argentina's First Lady Cristina Kirchner was confirmed as the government's candidate for the October presidential election, several public opinion polls show her vote intention rating on the rise and closing in on that of her husband President Nestor Kirchner. But there are also surprising replies about the president's “political comeback project for 2011”.

• Saturday, July 7th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Lula calls Chavez “my friend” but also defends Congress

  Brazil's president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva admitted Friday the existence of problems between Brasilia and Caracas, although he downplayed the tone of the dispute with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, whom he called my “friend”.

• Saturday, July 7th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Bush administration wakes up to South America's reality

  Several outstanding United States officials will be visiting “friendly” countries in South America to promote political and trade links in the framework of what has been described as the year of the “US commitment with Latinamerica”.

• Friday, July 6th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Penguin News weekly update

  

  Headlines:
  Should we take self-determination message direct to Argentina?; Blanch to return; Ferry contract signed; No local tourism applications; Live Earth this weekend.

• Thursday, July 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Kirchner tries to smooth Chavez/Lula conflict

  Argentine president Nestor Kirchner called Thursday on his Brazilian counterpart Lula da Silva to help smooth the way so Venezuela can become an active member of Mercosur.

• Wednesday, July 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela/Brazil conflict strains Mercosur project

  Mercosur faces its most serious political crisis following the spiraling conflict between Brazil and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who publicly announced a three months “ultimatum” for the definitive approval of his country's entry to the main South American trade block.

• Wednesday, July 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  “There are rules to belong to Mercosur, but none to leave”

  Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said he was looking forward to talk with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez to discuss the latest Mercosur misunderstandings but he also emphasized that there are rules to become a member of the trade group, but none to leave.

• Tuesday, July 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil offers resettlement for Palestinian refugees from Iraq

  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed an offer by Brazil to resettle an estimated 100 Palestinians formerly living in Iraq starting in mid-September.