Politics

• Friday, April 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguay: old regime could begin to crumble on Sunday

  

  The last 48 hours before Sunday's vote to elect president and a new Congress in Paraguay are showing the strains of an ancient regime that has ruled undisputedly in the country for over six decades but which seems condemned according to the prevailing opinion polls for the last twelve months.

• Friday, April 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Tibet and impeached minister mark a new low for M. Bachelet

  The government of Chilean president Michelle Bachelet marked this week a new low when her Education minister was impeached and barred five years from office, and the Lower House approved a proposal condemning repression in Tibet and calling on Beijing to hold talks with the Dalai Lama.

• Friday, April 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Inquiry into death of British priest during Pinochet period

  Arrest orders have been extended for six Chilean naval officers allegedly involved in the abduction and torture of a British Catholic priest and other political prisoners during the early days of the September 1973 military coup that ousted elected Socialist president Salvador Allende.

• Friday, April 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Argentina continental shelf claim “on time for May 2009”

  

  Argentina ratified this week that it will present on time (May 2009) continental shelf claims before the United Nations Continental Shelf Limits Commission as stipulated under the Law of the Sea. Argentine officials also denied Britain allegedly was trying to extend its continental shelf westerly from the Falkland Islands towards Tierra del Fuego.

• Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazilian delegation disappointed with the Mercosur Parliament

  

  The Senator who leads the Brazilian delegation to the Mercosur Parliament announced this week he was resigning his post to protest the “lack of consideration and disrespect” Brazilian ministers have shown towards the organization.

• Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  New attempt to address Falklands' claim with PM Brown

  

  The Argentine press speculates with a meeting between President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Prime Minister Gordon Brown next month in Peru during the fifth Latinamerica-Caribbean-European Union summit, for which 24 leaders have been confirmed including the British PM.

• Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Mrs. Kirchner fits velvet gloves and takes on the press

  

  In the midst of an escalating conflict between President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and the Argentine media, the government ordered a change in the channel grid of cable-TV companies.

• Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Farmers discussion with Argentine government stalled

  

  In a climate of growing frustration and with no advances to show, Argentine farmers held a new round of talks with government officials to discuss the promised review of camp and taxing policies.

• Thursday, April 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Paraguayan election, another energy challenge for Brazil

  

  Energy and energy security has snowballed as an issue in the last leg of the Paraguayan presidential election of next Sunday, April 20. The two heavy weight neighbors are highly dependent on Paraguayan energy resources and all Paraguayan leading candidates have promised a review of the contracts “which are most unfair for our country”.

• Tuesday, April 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Hello Miami: Long lines in Cuba for cellular phones

  Hundreds of Cubans queued for blocks outside phone stores on Monday to sign up for cellular phone service for the first time. Contracts cost about 120 US dollars and do not include a phone or credit to make and receive calls.