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Ecuador: El Universo newspaper’s executives were convicted for libel on President Correa

RedactorR — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:51:19 +0000

Ecuador, September 21, 2011
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On Tuesday an appeals court confirmed “the sentence of three years in prison and 40 million dollars in damages against three executives of the newspaper El Universo and one of its editors, after President Correa began a lawsuit for slander.”

The article that provoked the complaint accused President Rafael Correa of crimes against humanity and ordered to shoot unarmed civilians.

Other similar cases:

Fierro Benítez Case: “In 2003, El Comercio newspaper columnist Rodrigo Fierro Benítez was sued for libel by former President Leon Febres Cordero, who demanded to Fierro two years in prison and a compensation of 1 million dollars.

After passing the case on several instances, the final sentence was one month in prison, but the execution of it was suspended considering that Fierro had no criminal record and had more than 70 years of age.

Aponte case: “In 2008, journalist Freddy Aponte was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment in the libel trial that followed Bolivar Castillo, Former Mayor of Loja.

A year later, a court ruling ordered to Aponte the payment of 54,633 dollars compensation for moral damage. The broadcaster was declared insolvent and did not pay such compensation. On 9 August this year, the Second Court of Criminal Guarantees sentenced him to five years in prison for the crime of fraudulent bankruptcy.

Case ‘Big Brother’: “President Rafael Correa has asked an award of $ 10 million in the demand for moral damages since February this year against journalists Christian Zurita and Juan Carlos Calderón, who wrote the book” The Big Brother “, in which was investigated millionaires contracts related to Fabricio Correa companies, the president’s brother, with the state.”

Rousseff at the UN: “Unemployment is a scourge that must be fought”

Marcos Ponce — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:04:58 +0000

New York, September 21, 2011
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Brazil President Dilma Rousseff spoke at the UN General Assembly, where he said that unemployment is a scourge and must be fought in order to not to spread the entire planet.

“We have over 200 million unemployed in the world, it is vital to combat this scourge, to prevent the drag to other regions of the planet. We women know that unemployment is not just a statistic, hits to our families, our children, our husbands, beats expectations and leave the naked violence,” the Brazilian president said.

Rousseff stated that the causes of the global crisis were already known, “why it is already clear, it is important to find collective real and fast solutions,” she said.

She also considered that “this crisis is very, very serious to be beaten by a few countries. Governments and central banks continue with the main responsibility of the process but like all countries suffer the consequences of the crisis, everyone is entitled to participate in solutions.”

She added, “Leaders of developed countries do not have lack of financial resources, they have not found a solution to the crisis, let me say that it is for lack of political resources and sometimes for lack of ideas, some of the world has not found the balance between appropriate fiscal adjustment and correct and accurate fiscal stimulus for the demand and growth.”

The Brazilian president also said that “the challenge of the crisis is to replace outdated theories of an old world and new training for a new world.”

She indicated that like other countries in the region, “Brazil has been the least beaten by the global crisis. Anyway, our resilience is not unlimited. We want and we can help those countries where the crisis is acute.”

México: 35 bodies were found in Veracruz

RedactorR — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:04:42 +0000

September 21, 2011
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In one of the main avenues in Boca del Rio city, Veracruz, Mexico, police found 35 bodies in two trucks abandoned on a bridge located opposite the Las Americas mall, and the authorities assume that was a crime by Los Zetas cartel.

Veracruz attorney general Reynaldo Escobar Pérez said that “the bodies were stacked, tied, gagged, with garbage bags on their heads; the bodies show signs of violence, including torture. As an official said all victims had criminal records for kidnapping, murder, drug trafficking and organized crime.”

The attorney also confirmed that “There are 35 bodies found, 23 are men and 12 women.”

Hugo Chávez: “The ICHM is worthless to me, it’s a zero”

RedactorB — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 22:07:31 +0000

Venezuela, September 17, 2011

Hugo Chavez criticized the international human rights body after its order to allow politically his opponent Leopoldo Lopez.

“What value can have that court? It is worthless to me, is a zero” said Chavez after receiving Evo Morales at the presidential palace of Miraflores.

Thus, the Bolivarian leader attacked the Court, recalling that the same court denied a protective order in 2002, during the attempted coup against him, and said that they never ruled about it.

In this way, he said that “this court is part of institutions of the past” and added “America must keep pushing and giving birth to new institutions of the century”.

“The ruling is politically biased, so the local courts should review its relevance” assured the president.

On the other hand, he said “whoever the opposition candidate may be, in October 7, 2012 a hurricane will pass over him, the electoral hurricane, the hurricane of the people”.

Chile shaken by a 5.9 earthquake

RedactorR — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:37:07 +0000

Chile, September 14, 2011
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On Wednesday at dawn, a 5.9 earthquake struck central Chi, U.S. Geological Survey said.

Seismological Service of the University of Chile reported that “An earthquake of 5.5 degrees was recorded at 04:03.”

The epicenter was located 38 kilometers north of Valparaiso at a depth of 19 km U.S. service said.

But the Chilean said, “The epicenter was 48 miles north of Valparaiso and had a depth of 51.4 miles.”

It also informed on another tremor of 4.1 magnitude, at 4:17. So far no damage was reported.

Venezuela: early elections in 2012

Deborah Michelini — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:00:29 +0000

September 13, 2011

The National Electoral Council (CNE) ruled that elections for president of the 2013-19 period will be made on October 7 next year and not in December, as it was the original date.

This decision was well received by both the ruling and the opposition.

Tibisay Lucena, president of the CNE announced the decision adopted “unanimously” to urge the parties to commit themselves to respect the results and so questioned the “troublemakers groups seeking to mislead public opinion”

” The parties should tell the country if they are willing to participate in this election party and they decide if they accept the election results,” Lucena said while he called on those who would be candidates to explain to Venezuelans, “which is its commitment to the country and the interests that move. ”

The resolution also includes another election schedule for commissions from two other estates: in October 2012 was elected president; governors and mayors will be in April 2013.

The Council will “ensure transparency and compliance with the Constitution of Venezuela” for the election act, Lucena said and she charged against sectors that criticized the autonomy of the Electoral.

“We note that in recent weeks, some individuals that are part of a group of troublemakers, who knows what purpose and under what interests sought to mislead public opinion and put into question the institutions of this country and the credibility of this electoral power. ”

Venezuela should be chosen for the period 2013-19 their next president, 23 governors, 233 regional deputies, 335 mayors, two metropolitan mayors and councilmen 2387.

“The whole country we say, continue to see where the truth and put aside these corpuscles troublemakers who are fortunately few and the whole country should isolate them,” said Lucena.

For his part, President Hugo Chavez, who will go for re-election said he will respect the CNE’s decision and said the victory “to move forward and ensure peace.”

“I will rule until 2019 and God willing, and I have good health, 2019-2025 and here we go,” said Bush, who lamented that “walking and some in provocative, trying to deceive the people.”

Chile conmemorated the 38° anniversary of Allende’s overthrow

RedactorB — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 22:34:18 +0000

Chile, September 11, 2011

Today, Chile commemorated the 38th anniversary of the coup that overthrew Salvador Allende and installed the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, which would last for 17 years. In this way, and remembering the more than 3000 victims of the regime, the demonstration ended with 20 arrested in clashes with police at a date which is controversial.

The Association of Relatives of Disappeared called to thousands of people to gather in downtown Santiago to march to a memorial in memory of the 3225 victims that the Pinochet dictatorship left.

The demonstration was developed at first quietly, with Chilean flags and posters for public education, source of mass marches in recent months in Chile and they do not approached to the palace of La Moneda, which was surrounded by police strongly.

On September 11, 1973, in the same presidential palace, the socialist Salvador Allende, died due to the attack held by Pinochet’s coup forces that bombed the building. However, thanks to a research that is still ongoing, it became known that Allende committed suicide with a rifle that his friend Fidel Castro gave him.

Although the demonstration took place peacefully, the incidents happened near the memorial, when a group of hooded men began to confront with the police.

Protesters threw stones to the police, burned tires and other objects and attacked some journalists and photographers displayed on the site, while police fired jets of water and tear gasses to disperse them.

In this sense, they stopped 20 people for “disorders and injuries,” according to AFP news agency.

Pinochet never came to be convicted by the Justice, since he died on December 10, 2006, at age 91 and with several ongoing processes of human rights violations committed during his dictatorship.

International shame: Uruguayan soldiers accused of raping a Haitian during a humanitarian mission (video)

RedactorP — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:30:27 +0000

September 6, 2011

The Haitian president, Michel Martelly, denounced and condemned the alleged abuse of a 18 year old by Uruguayan soldiers who was on a humanitarian aid mission.

UN peacekeepers from Uruguay’s appeared in a video on what would have been “a gang rape,” said the Haitian leader.

After these pictures were published, the five soldiers were arrested, while his superior officer was fired.

The government of Uruguay has expressed its rejection of these facts and hasannounced it will open a criminal case against the military.

M24Digital shows you the video of the alleged violation:

Ladies in White: The Catholic Church condemns the attacks on the dissident group

RedactorR — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:30:31 +0000

Cuba, September 6, 2011
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Cuban Catholic Church authorities denounced abuse by government supporters against the group of dissidents “Ladies in white” saying, “violence against helpless people has no justification.”

The Church issued a statement, expressing “the island’s communist government told them that they had no ordered the attacks on dissidents,” but this was received with suspicion by leading human rights activists in Cuba.

The Cuban Catholic Church said that “It is well known, and we have reiterated on several occasions, that violence of any kind applied to helpless people has no justification. The Cuban government, in these situations, informed the Church that any national center gave the order to attack these people.”

According to the Cuban government, the so-called acts of repudiation against dissidents emerge spontaneously from its followers, but foreign diplomats said they are organized by the State.

Elizardo Sanchez, head of the independent Cuban Commission for Human Rights, said that any order for the harassment of activists would have been come from the highest level of government, including President Raul Castro.”

“I am sure that General Raul Castro at least approved or ordered to use force in recent weeks.”

Chile: The plane may have disintegrated while trying to land

RedactorR — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 14:14:34 +0000

Chile, September 5, 2011
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Chilean Defense Minister Andres Allamand said, “The aircraft of the Chile Air Force (FACH) damaged Saturday in Juan Fernandez archipelago could have disintegrated while trying to land, so it will be difficult to recover the bodies of 21 people aboard.”

“The indications we have strengthened the hypothesis of a possible breakdown product of the strong impact suffered while the plane was trying to land.”

Allamand added, “The work will focus on the location of the wreckage of the plane, where most of the corpses could be.”

“We will make up to three scans. If we find a positive sign, the tactical divers will enter to reach depths ranging from 20 to 70 meters. They are high-risk operations.”

Rescue services continue to look for wreckage, and promised that “We will not give up; we will deploy all our capabilities.”

So far, researchers managed to recover nine bodies that already were transferred to the Forensic Medical Service agencies to identify them, but it will take a while.

Cuba: Ladies in White arrested

RedactorR — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 11:15:58 +0000

Cuba, September 5, 2011
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As it was reported by Laura Pollan to Europa Press, “About 16 ladies in white and support women and families of political prisoners were arrested Sunday in the provinces of Havana and Matanzas, located in northwestern Cuba, as they marched toward different churches to attend mass.”

In the town of Columbus, state security agents arrested the leader of ‘The Ladies in White “, Laura Pollan and six other women when they went to church. The activists tried to resist but officers introduced them in the patrols.

Pollan declared, “They have said us that we should not go there, but we resisted. I’ve thrown to the ground in protest and they have pulled me to get up. I think they have injured me because it hurts so much my right shoulder.”

Ernesto Samper, one of the security officers of Havana, was who moved to the leader of the Ladies in White.

In addition, Cuban security forces arrested nine other women belonging to this organization, six in the municipality of Cardenas, located in Matanzas, and three in the capital.

Chile: two days of mourning for the death of the passengers on the plane

RedactorP — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 17:21:20 +0000

Chile, September 4, 2011

The president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, announced two days of national mourning after it became aware that the 21 people aboard the plane that crashed near the Juan Fernandez archipelago died.

“The government has decided to declare national mourning on Monday and Tuesday of next week as a way of expressing solidarity with the families of the victims,” the president said at a news conference.

“We are deploying all efforts humanly possible to rescue people who died in the incident,” Piñera said, since only four bodies have been recovered, the two women and two men.

Chile: confirmed that all passengers died

Deborah Michelini — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 01:35:46 +0000

September 3, 2011

Chilean Defense Minister Andres Allamand, said “the impact was such that there wasinstant death of all passengers.” The first four victims were identified and among them,two members of the TVN channel.

Meanwhile, preliminary surveys through fingerprint identification, the Chilean authorities were able to establish that the four bodies found in the Juan Fernandez archipelago, area Erwin Núñez, the official Council of Culture, Gália Diaz, journalist Robert Bruce and Sylvia Slaï producer. The identification was confirmed by the government spokesman, Andrew Chadwick.

For its part, the inspector general of the Chilean Air Force, Ricardo Gutierrez, said the rescue operation will continue day and night, despite the variable weather conditionsthat the archipelago has been all this Saturday.

Chile: Four bodies recovered arrive in Santiago for identification

Deborah Michelini — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 00:36:42 +0000

September 3, 2011

Four bodies recovered from plane fell on the Chilean island of Juan Fernandez were taken to Santiago de Chile and to their identification in an atmosphere of commotion and a crowd gathered in front of National Television of Chile, where he was news crew traveling in the aircraft. ”This accident touches the heart and soul of the Chileans,” Piñera

The bodies, two men and two women, arrived at 19.50 to the airbase Forest of the Chilean Air Force and from there , they were moved to the Institute of Forensic Medicine, where they were identified through their fingerprints.

The Chilean authorities, once informed of the identities of their families awaiting tonight at the Medical Legal Institute, were brought to a chapel for them to be vigilant of the Chileans, “Pinera said.

The crash of the Chilean Air Force carrying 21 passengers, occurred yesterday afternoon when the aircraft could not land on the island of Juan Fernandez, a distance of 670 kilometers of the continent, due to strong winds.

The machine took two laps around the airport at 17.48 until all contact was lost. This morning the authorities of the island and fishing boats found four bodies, wreckage and plenty of luggage in the sea.

The president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, confirmed that the CASA 212 aircraft of the Chilean Air Force wrecked yesterday, “crashed into the sea,” and said that while “never lose faith, we do not create false expectations,” the outcome end the accident.

“We know that this aircraft has fixed landing gear and so the landing is dangerous,” Piñera said, told Channel 7 in Chile.

Rescue efforts, involving six aircraft and two frigates, are led by Defense Minister Andres Allamand, and the head of the Air Force, who traveled to the area.

Fishermen and island groups are also involved in search efforts.

The accident has caused a stir in Chile because among the missing passengers is a news team of five professionals from the National Television of Chile (TVN), including Camiroaga, one of the most credible and beloved faces on local television.

Continuing disagreement between students and Piñeira

Deborah Michelini — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 21:46:03 +0000

September 3, 2011

The government offered budgetary changes system ones.Camila Vallejo, spokesman for the National Confederation of Students in Chile announced that the protests will continue until there is a concrete answer: “This instance does not mean that westrip off the movement.”The meeting held this afternoon after three months of protest for free education and quality did not reach a successful outcome for students. Protests continue despite the government’s half-hearted attempts to reach an agreement.For his part, Education Minister Felipe Bulnes, said it was ”an open instance and conditions are to begin to work on Monday” in the solutions that “allow us to unlock the conflict.” The government reiterated that is “available” to “make a significant increase in regard to the education budget.”

On Monday the government will give proposals in order to unlock the student conflict and in response to the 12 points that students gave to the executive regarding such topics as the purpose of gainin education and shared financing.

Chile: Piñera receives the students in the Palacio of La Moneda

RedactorB — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:45:42 +0000

Chile, September 3, 2011

The Chilean President, Sebastián Piñera, called the students to discuss in the Palacio de La Moneda, despite the crash of the plane of the Chilean Air Force. Along with his education minister, Felipe Bulnes, the government plans to listen to the demands of students who struggle to make the education system and higher education free and secular.

The stance of not visiting the island Juan Fernandez, where the accident occurred, shows, perhaps not the intention, but the will to resolve the conflict that still remains, after three months of protests.

“The meeting with students is very important for the country to cancel it” said the president. The pre-meeting discussions were about the number of representatives of the students who would participate. Firstly, the Executive had offered the entry of five, but eventually backed down and left in the hands of the students the chance to choose. “We accept who they choose as representatives” assured official sources.

The presidential dining room was the venue chosen for the meeting, with a capacity for about twenty-five people. There will attend not only delegates of the students, but university presidents and two representatives of the College of Teachers.

“We want to know if they really are willing to understand education as a universal social right and not as a commodity” said Camila Vallejos, when the meeting with Sebastián Piñera was appointed.

Missing plane in Chile: It was confirmed the discovery of four bodies and part of the fuselage

Marcos Ponce — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:00:32 +0000

Airport where the plane tried to landing

Juan Fernández Island, September 3, 2011
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Yesterday a Chilean military aircraft disappeared with 18 passengers and 3 crew near to Juan Fernandez archipelago located in the South Pacific, about 670 kilometers from the Chilean coast.

Admiral of the Navy Cristián de la Maza confirmed moments ago that “they found in the bay Villagra, the lifeless body of a woman, still unidentified, and many remains of the plane.”

Moments later, authorities confirmed the discovery of the body of another woman and two men, who were also in the aircraft at the time of the tragedy.

The body and part of the fuselage of the aircraft were found by a civilian boat, which worked with the Chilean navy, while search operations resumed this morning with the launch of six search planes, patrols and medical equipment. Both the Air Force and Navy will send more patrols during the course of the day.

General Secretary of the Chile Air Force Maximiliano Larraechea explained, “Unfortunately there is no record of communications, the aircraft had the runway in sight and flew as it always does. Then, there was an attempt of landing that for some reason was refused and then we lost contact.”

Among the passengers on the aircraft there were officials from the National Council for Culture and the Arts, a team at TVN show “Good Morning to All” and the initiative Lift Chile Challenge, who were for the opening of a school built after the tragic earthquake and tsunami that hit the country in February 2010.

List of passengers and crew of the missing plane:
Pilot Juan Pablo Mallea
First Officer Carolina Fernández
Eduardo Jones
Erwin Núnez
Eduardo Estrada
Flavio Olivo
Felipe Camiroaga
Roberto Bruce
Sylvia Slier
Carolina Gatica
Rodrigo Cabezón
Felipe Cubillos
Sebastián Correa
Joel Lizama
Catalina Vela
Jorge Palm
Joaquín Arnolds
Galia Díaz
Romina Irarrázabal
José Cifuentes
Rodrigo Fernández

Chile: Of the 33 miners rescued from the San Jose mine, 14 will receive a pension

RedactorR — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:20:42 +0000

Chile, August 31, 2011
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Government officials in Chile reported that they gave pensions to 14 of the 33 miners who were rescued in the San Jose mine in Copiapo, Atacama Desert.

Cecilia Morel, who took charge of the delivery, said: “Each of the 14 miners will receive an amount of approximately $ 530 per month after their health conditions are not enough to work but also it was taken into account age and the agreement of the miners themselves”.

“Now we see them all alive and looking good. But the trauma was not free. They were famous for a disaster that still causes them sequels,” she added.

U.S. scientists killed 83 people in Guatemala

Marcos Ponce — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 16:32:57 +0000

Guatemala, August 30, 2011
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U.S. scientists were responsible for the deaths of at least 83 Guatemalans during the 40′s, through experiments attempting to test the effectiveness of penicillin.

About 1,000 Guatemalans were infected with syphilis and gonorrhea between 1946 and 1948. Most were prostitutes, mental patients, prisoners and soldiers who did not know what they were exposed to.

It means that they do not give their consent in order to be part of such experiments, which is a clear violation of human rights.

Consequently many of these people died when they were exposed to these sexually transmitted diseases and it was proved last year, which involved an apology by the U.S. government.

However, confirmation of these terrible experiments gives rise to many families of the victims to begin trials, as American Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethics Affairs acknowledged that people were not informed properly about the nature of the experiments.

Pepe Mujica: “We need a big overhang that shelters the little houses”

RedactorP — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 01:29:51 +0000

Uruguay, August 29, 2011

The president of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Jose “Pepe” Mujica, spoke at the opening of the Free Peoples train, which links Argentina with his country. He called for the union between the two countries and the region.

This is a day of joy, why not, is a day of commitment. Let’s step by step closer, and constantly improve our relationship with the Argentine people, who were born in the same room as us. We build, as we can, because MERCOSUR is not a causality of virtue, is what we have done, and we will continue struggling to improve over the decades ahead.

And there are many young people. They will live in a world that we can not imagine. They will live the era of huge continental units.

I’m waiting for the Argentine census results to know how many Uruguayans there are in Argentina, the only place on earth where the Uruguayans do not feel foreign, but part of the same. Similarly, the Argentine people are part of our own people. No one should give up their independence, but frankly you have to understand, that we need a big overhang that shelters the little houses. That’s the way.

Chile: Piñera called the students to meet next Tuesday

RedactorB — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 21:28:16 +0000

Chile, Ausugt 28, 2011

Today, the president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, called the students that have been doing strikes for three months to meet next Tuesday at the Palacio de La Moneda, to seek solutions and unlock the conflict.

“I ask and call to attend a dialogue that we must do with our positions and convictions, but with goodwill and a spirit of solving the problem rather than aggravating it” Pinera said.

On Saturday night, the Confederation of Students of Chile (CONFECH) agreed to accept the invitation to dialogue, but said they expect a response to the twelve points raised by the student movement.

Piñera also said “the proposal seeks to build bridges that bring us closer to solutions rather than building walls that follow us apart”.

“There have passed more than three months of demonstrations, strikes, hunger strikes that have managed to put the issue of education in the center of the debate” acknowledged the Chilean president. Students call for a reform in the education system and the end of profit with this human right in the country”.

Teenager dies in Chile incidents

RedactorR — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:41:16 +0000

Santiago de Chile, August 18, 2011
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Manuel Gutierrez, 14, died during the early hours of Friday in Santiago de Chile after being shot in the chest in the 48-hour strike called by the Confederation of Workers (CUT).

According to witnesses, “a brother of the victim heard three shots when a police patrol was in the place.”

The teenager was transfered to a medical center, where his death was confirmed.

Popular Defense lawyer Washington Lizana reported to the media that “it is not rule out legal action against those responsible for the death of the boy.”

The Homicide of Police Investigations (PDI) is trying to clarify the causes of death.

The most serious incidents occurred in La Picoya with barricades and shooting, where police Capt. Cesar Martinez was hit in the face while was trying to control incidents caused by hoods.

Mario Parraguez Pinto, 18, received a bullet in the eye when he was near a barricade.

According to local media, “the bullet went through his brain, so his life in danger.”

Attack in Mexico leaves 22 dead

RedactorP — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 01:58:28 +0000

Mexico, August 25, 2011

A group of armed men threw grenades at a casino in the Mexican city of Monterrey. There are several people injured and 22 dead.

As stated by witnesses, a man entered the playroom at 15:50 (local time) and threw a grenade over the Casino Royale de Monterrey, killing at least 22 dead and leaving 50 people trapped.

While it was not confirmed the identity of the attackers, it is believed they are involved a network of drug traffickers who “settled scores”. Monterrey is one of the cities that has been badly hit by attacks from drug dealers.

Strike in Chile with incidents

RedactorR — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:32:26 +0000

Santiago de Chile, August 24, 2011
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The strike called by the Central Unica de Trabajadores (CUT) for today and tomorrow began with incidents.

During this morning there were clashes between demonstrators and police.

“Some two hundred people blocked a road and set up barricades, a situation that forced Special Forces of police to act with hydrant truck,” a police report said.

During the night there were several incidents, one of the most serious occurred in the Pincoya, where a group of protesters attacked and shot troops of Special Forces and a policeman was shot while the demonstrators were trying to take a police station.

Transantiago Alsace Company reported that “All services are functioning normally and the buses are fulfilling their output frequencies of the terminals.”

OOPP minister Laurence Golborne said “The state of the roads is normal, despite some isolated cases that occurred during the night. Same situation is taking place at the airports, ports and Customs”.

The company Express pointed out that “their services are functioning normally.”

Argentina and Uruguay denied the reports of pollution published by the Uruguayan press

RedactorB — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:44:46 +0000

Argentina, August 21, 2011

Today, the presidents of the delegations of both Argentina and Uruguay denied to the Commission of the Rio Uruguay (CARU, for its acronym in Spanish) the versions of the Uruguayan press who claim that the Industrial Park Gualeguaychú pollutes more than UPM (ex Botnia).

The statement was released jointly by Hernán Orduna, Argentine leader and Gaston Silbermann, representative of Uruguay, and claimed that “we categorically denies these versions and express the Binational Scientific Committee has not submitted to CARU reports for the studies that have been done”.

The accusation goes to the Montevideo newspaper El Pais, published on the basis of “official” sources but not cited, arguing that the UPM pulp mill does not pollute, unlike Gualeguaychú’s Industrial Park.

According to the newspaper, the CARU would have delayed the release of the report by the differences between Argentine and Uruguayan members charged with carrying out the analysis.

Thus, both delegations argued that until “the reports are not submitted to CARU and this institution makes them public, in accordance with bilaterally approved procedures, news reports that are circulating are invalid and did not match with reality”.

According to Uruguayan sources, UPM doesn’t contaminate the Uruguay River

RedactorB — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 20:22:17 +0000

Argentina, August 20, 2011

Uruguayan media published the report of the Uruguay River Management Commission, which determined that UPM (ex Botnia), does not pollute the water, unlike Gualeguaychú’s Industrial Park.

The pulp mill effluent of UPM said that the waters of the Uruguay River are maintained within established limits, but the water coming from Argentina have residual contaminants.

The newspaper El Pais of Montevideo, reported that the tests conducted in Canada determined that the company does not pollute the river water.

Moreover, they claimed that the Gualeguaychú River is being polluted by the industrial park of the same name, as it barely overcomes legal limits.

However, Argentine sources claimed that UPM has exceeded the 30 degrees allowed, but Uruguayan scientists stated that the limit is 37 degrees. Apparently, the dispute will continue until final results are known.

Chile: Teachers and students continue the protest against profiting with education

RedactorP — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:46:49 +0000

Chile, August 18, 2011

Teachers and students in Chile still maintains the pace of mobilization as seen in the past week, 240,000 people across the country. They rejected a government proposal, calling it ”unseemly.”

The fight against profiting with education continues with its emblem in Santiago. There,the leader of the Teachers, Jaime Gajardo, said: “We have kept the level of attendance [to the demonstration], despite the difficulties due to the weather and other obstacles. The balance is extremely positive and demonstrates that the movement is not tired, we do not see any cracks and it keeps rising.”

Meanwhile, Camila Vallejo, of the CONFECH, said: “The answer of [the education minister, Felipe] Bulnes was unseemly. There is an inconsistency when the government says it wants dialogue and presents projects without talking.”

She emphasized that the proposal “reaffirms the market model based on the profit motive in education,” which goes against what they are mobilizing for.

Venezuela plans to nationalize gold mining

RedactorP — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:34:48 +0000

Venezuela, August 17, 2011

Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez, announced the submission to Parliament of a bill that plans to nationalize gold mining around the country.

“I will soon propose a law authorizing to begin nationalizing the gold area and I’m counting on you -he said to the army- because that area is anarchy, there are mafias and there is smuggling.”

“That’s our great wealth, one of the largest in the world, gold, precious stones, diamonds, bauxite, iron mining. All in the arch of Guyana,” Chavez said.

“I have here the laws that which reserve for the State the exploration, exploitation and all related activities to gold, that is, we are going to nationalize the gold and we will take them to our international reserves, because their value continues to increase,” he said.

“We have about 12 or 13 billion dollars in gold reserves. We can not let them continue to take that away, ” the President said.

Venezuela has large gold deposits throughout its territory. Only in La Cristina, there are 17 million ounces (30,600 million dollars).

The Chilean Government required “uncovered faces” in the protests

RedactorB — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 00:05:49 +0000

Chile, August 13, 2011

Rodrigo Hinzpeter, Chile’s interior minister, said “the demonstrations should be done with clean hands and uncovered faces. The time when people hide their faces not to fall to justice must end”.

He also announced a draft law amending the Decree 1086, which regulates the mobilization and thus prohibits the attendance to the marches “hooded, with scarves or anything that covers the face”.

It also will increase penalties for disorderly in public, condemning the participants to 341 days to three years in prison.

“We have to reconcile the rights, we have to put a shortcut to criminals and should be noted that often the peaceful demonstrations, such as the one held by the students, are distorted by people who attend only to commit crimes and excesses” he added.

Students have called on Tuesday in Santiago more than seventy thousand people, which ended in riots after clashes with police, leaving 396 arrested, 78 wounded and burning cars and buildings.

Different groups condemned these new decisions and stated that the abuses do not represent the requirement of a free and public education.

Fidel Castro turns 85

RedactorP — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 18:21:27 +0000

Cuba, August 13, 2011

Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro turns 85 years old today. There will be a celebration in Havana. Former President of Cuba is accompanied by Hugo Chavez, who struggles against cancer.

The Karl Marx Theatre will be full today as Fidel Castro’s birthday is celebrated by intellectuals and artists from all over the world.

Fidel’s brother, Raul Castro, is facing a tough stage in command of Cuba. He is forced to reform the economic system in order to fight back a strong recession.

The Financial and Economic Council of the UNASUR was formed

RedactorP — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:11:08 +0000

City of Buenos Aires, August 12, 2011

After the meeting of the Economy Ministers of the countries of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR for its acronym in Spanish), the coordinator of the meeting, Argentine Amado Boudou, announced that an agreement was reached to create an Economic and Financial Council of the UNASUR. M24Digital had anticipated it.

“We are deepening in the integration work. The financial system is not the center ofdiscussion. Even countries with different political orientation are reaching consensus that these are the ways,” Boudou said.

“When the world fell, our countries worked together and we succeed. As I said, we are moving to see how we can coordinate these mechanisms of integration,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Economy of Argentina, Roberto Felleti, said: “The task force moved into 3 axes. How to strengthen trade: the progress in all multilateral payment schemes towards a tendency to use local currencies as the best way to protect trade and our volume of international reserves”.

“The second issue was the coordination of the use of those reserves to facilitate the ability of the Central Banks to act against the volatility of the markets.”

“The third issue is the construction of regional development banks, the strengthening of the CAF and advancing in the establishment of the South Bank. It is something that takes time and work, but there is progress.”

UNASUR: The Economy Ministers met to face the crisis united

RedactorP — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:52:49 +0000

August 12, 2011

The Economy Ministers of the countries of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR, for its acronym in Spanish) met today to reach agreements on measures to face the global crisis.

One of the measures they were analyzing was the creation of a regional reserve fund, a hard job due to the political and economical complications that this implies for Argentina and Brazil.

There would be agreements on the design of policies against the speculative funds in order to prevent currency appreciation.

Another advance would be that transactions would no longer be made in dollars but in local currency.

Chile: 39 injured and 273 arrested in students march

RedactorR — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 13:34:35 +0000

Santiago de Chile, August 10, 2011

According Interior Secretary Rodrigo Ubilla 39 people (23 police officers between them) were injured and 273 were arrested after the incidents of the students march on Tuesday.

Ubilla said that between 70,000 and 80,000 people were in the march but 2,000 were just to cause the incidents.

“We are concerned that those who call for these demonstrations are not able to control these groups that are a minority but cause a great chaos”, the secretary said.

Chile University Students Federation (FECH) and some local media said the people present on the march were 10,000 but police said it was the half.

“We believed is time for dialogue as the country call for a change in education system”, Ubilla said.

Chilean teachers and students demanded a solution or a plesbicite

RedactorP — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:01:03 +0000

Chile, 9 de agosto de 2011

In a press conference, Chilean students and teachers demanded that the government gives “a clear answer tomorrow” with respect to the demand for educational reform. They also called for a new cacerolazo for today at 21.

The head of the University Federation of Chile (DATE), Camila Vallejo, said that they keep their aim aim in “ensuring quality public education, free, democratic, pluralistic and multicultural.”

“We’ve shown that there is here a majority expressing that the government is who remains intransigent, after 3 months of massive and historic demonstrations,” she said, adding that “the government needs to give a clear answer tomorrow. They must understand the context in which Chile is.”

“We will not be the owners of Chile, we clearly are not. The employers are who govern in facts our country. However, we can be masters of our future,” she said.

Interior Minister of Chile: “What we must do is work in the law projects”

RedactorP — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:07:19 +0000

Chile, August 9, 2011

Rodrigo Hinzpeter, Interior Minister of Chile, spoke about the incidents occurred during the mobilization of today. He said that the leaders “no longer control the demonstrations”.

“It has come the time for them to think about to what point are they summoning these demonstration, which are not controlled by their leadership”, he said.

He finished by saying that “what we must do is work in the law projects” in order to exit this situation.

Chile: New incidents between students and police

Marcos Ponce — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:55:22 +0000

Santiago de Chile, August 9, 2011

New incidents took place in Santiago de Chile between students and police, in the middle of protest claiming for public education. According university sources almost 100.000 people marched today.

M24Digital correspondents reported that a group of demonstrators threw Molotov bombs and they cause fires on the streets. Some flames have reached a couple of vehicles.

Other students with their covered faces threw stones to public buildings and police officers. The streets are the stages of chaos again.

Police launched a strong repression with tear gas and rubber bullets. There are no injured reported so far.

Guatemala: Sandra Torres, without candidacy and husband

RedactorR — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:48:08 +0000

London, August 9, 2011

The constitutional court resolved yesterday unanimously that former first lady Sandra Torres Casanova violates the article 186 of the Constitution and therefore her candidacy is rejected.

The article vetoes the right of presidential candidacy to the relatives of the president when he or she is in office.

The decision was made after four days of debate and with this ruling the former wife of current President Alvaro Colom doesn’t have any other judicial resources after a long way in Court to reach her candidacy.

Chile: Teachers and students rejected the proposal of the Education Minister

RedactorP — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:52:21 +0000

Chile, August 5, 2011

Teachers, high school students and university students of Chile rejected a proposal of the Ministry of Education because it does not eliminate profit in education.

After the brutal repression in Santiago and the rest of Chile, leaving over 800 people arrested, the representatives of those sectors gave a press conference in which they asked that the protest is not attacked.

“We ratify the way of dialogue, but that dialogue should be with demonstration, because it is a right which belongs to us citizens”, said the head of the Proffesor’s School, Jaime Gajardo.

They asked for a meeting in which they reach consensus near a 21-point-petition towards an educational reform.

Photos of students repression in Chile

Marcos Ponce — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:16:50 +0000

Police repress students who protests for free education in Chile

Marcos Ponce — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:09:53 +0000

Santiago de Chile August 4, 2011

Police repressed students in Chile capital in order to prevent the protests for free education.

Form 10 AM high school students marched to Italia square the center of the demonstration.

Interior minister had said that they were not authorized for the protests and dent the police to repress them. However, the students tried to arrive to the zone for different streets.

Professors College director Jorge gaijardo said, “We are going for the Bustamante Park and carabineros (police) repress and arrest student who marched without provocation”.

The Students Federation of Chile University director Camila Vallejo criticized the attacks and wrote on Twitter: “this is unacceptable, Santiago downtown is under siege, today authorities violate the citizen right to gather in Italia Square”.

President Chavez’ new look

Marcos Ponce — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:18:43 +0000

Caracas, August 1st, 2011

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez reappeared in the public television without hair and in suit, a new image in the middle of his fight against cancer.

The president didn’t hide his chemotherapy treatment and assured his is rejuvenating with his new hair cut.

Chavez showed a picture when he was one year old among his brother. He compared his new hair cut with that image.

“Keep on rejuvenating the values, the principles. Just young people have the passion, the force, the fury to begin a new revolution”, he said.

“To the biological youth we have to accompany with the spiritual youth and this never should leave our body” he added.

Piñera: “Chile doesn’t have a disproportionate spending in the defense area”

RedactorB — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:30:24 +0000

Chile, July 31, 2011

Today, the Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, responded to the Peruvian Foreign Minister who had considered “disproportionate” the public investment in the defense area of the neighboring country.

Thus, the president said that “Chile is not in any arms race, nor has a disproportionate spending on defense area. We have the needed investment to comply with a country that is peace-loving, respectful of the treaties, of their neighbors and respectful of international law”.

He expressed that will provide greater transparency about the defense spending so that there remain no doubts or uncertainties about it.

Another government official who spoke was Alfredo Moreno, foreing ministry, who said that “Chile is a country that does not have aspirations to claim ownership in other countries because it is committed to peace, is an advocate of strict observance of treaties, especially borderline treaties and therefore with defense spending does not intend to attack anyone”.

Ollanta Humala will assume the presidency today

RedactorP — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:18:42 +0000

Peru, July 28, 2011

Elected president Ollanta Humala will take office today in Lima, Peru. There will be an UNASUR meeting afterwards. President Cristina Kirchner has arrived to the country.

Humala was elected on June 5, 2011, and has generated many expectation in his country and the region as he is the first progressive chief of State in Peru in decades.

After the ceremony, the leaders of South America will have a summit of the UNASUR. Presidents of Venezuela and Paraguay Hugo Chavez and Fernando Lugo will not attend due to their health condition.

Hugo Chávez goes for the re-election in Venezuela

RedactorR — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:56:06 +0000

Venezuela, July 25, 2011

Hugo Chávez, president of Venezuela, returned last Saturday to his country, after doing his treatment against the cancer in Cuba.

The Venezuelan leader declared to “Correo del Orinoco” that “he’ll go for the re-election for the period 2012-2016 despite being operated from a tumor the last 20 of June”.

“I have medical, human and political reasons to go for the new election and the candidacy for the presidency stronger than ever”.

Chávez underwent two medical interventions. The first one was the 11 of July where he declared that “Fidel Castro behaved as the leader of the Venezuelan and Cuban doctors that dedicated to fight against his diseases”.

The second intervention was performed on the 20 of July, which lasted six hours. Chavez also said that “Fidel visited me again to give me the results. We started to think and to do a great effort, caring for every detail so I could recover myself”.

Four days after he started with the chemotherapy and affirmed that “has started a great recuperation”. Finally he assured “I’ve never lost contact with my Government, specially with my vice-president Elías Jaua”.

Ecuador: International press and human rights organizations condemns the ruling against El Univero newspaper

RedactorR — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:19:02 +0000

Ecuador, July 22, 2011

Human rights representative and the international press repudiated the ruling against three directors of El Universo newspaper. They were condemned to three years in prison and to pay 40,000 dollars because they criticized President Rafael Correa.

Human Rights International director Jose Miguel Vivanco said “the conviction for those who criticized the president is an attack against the expression freedom”.

‘Reporters without Borders’ organization also said the ruling was inappropriate in the middle of the debate about Communication Law.

Salvador Allende committed suicide

RedactorR — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:50:01 +0000

SANTIAGO DE CHILE, July 20, 2011
_______________________________________________________

The Chilean legal medical service confirmed that the former president Salvador Allende committed suicide according the tests results on his remains.

The fact occurred on September 11, 1973 at the government palace La Moneda during the coup headed by Augusto Pinochet.

Allende’s daughter Senator Isabel Allende said “The conclusion is what we thought: the president decided to committed suicide before the extreme circumstances on September 11, 1973 than to be humiliated or to live other situation”.

Hugo Chávez traveled to Havana to continue his recovery treatment

RedactorR — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:00:38 +0000

Cuba, July 17, 2011

The president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, who has remained in the power for 12 years, arrived at the airport in Havana, Cuba, and was received by the Cuban Head of State, Raul Castro and the Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.

Chavez went to meet the second phase of the chemotherapy for the cancer he’s being treated.

The Venezuelan president, before leaving, informed through television that “he would be for a few days in Cuba”.

And that “recent medical tests rule out any malignant cells in his body”.

Cuban television reported that “Cuban President Raul Castro met on Saturday the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the International Airport in Havana, where he will begin chemotherapy treatment for the cancer he has and for which he was operated twice in the Caribbean country last June”.

The Cuban government announced a report issued by the Venezuelan press, “Chavez arrives in Cuba after requesting permission from the National Assembly of Venezuela to leave his country for the purpose of initiating the second stage of their recovery treatment”.

The daily “El Universal” reported that “the Venezuelan president said before leaving for Havana that following recent medical examinations was ruled out the presence of new malignant cells in other parts of your body”.

“The Venezuelan government did not specify the time that the president will remains on the Caribbean island and said the treatment will begin this Sunday”.

Mexico: The biggest marijuana plantation is found in the middle of the desert

RedactorR — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:28:51 +0000

Mexico, July 15, 2011

Mexican soldiers discovered what would be the largest marijuana plantation in the world in the middle of the desert. It was hidden under a black cloth.

Authorities told M24Digital that “the plantation is four times bigger than any encounter we’ve made, this time the workers had even installed bath systems.

“The plantation was hidden under an enormous cover of a black cloth in the Lower Californian desert, 150 kilometers south of Tijuana, the border with San Diego”.

Alfonso Duarte, General of the Army told journalists that “the place was disguised as often do regular agriculturists to protect the harvest from excess of heat or sun”.

“When we came here, about 60 people were working. As they saw the soldiers, they ran, so we decided to investigate”.

Chavez congratulated Cristina Kirchner for her announcement

RedactorP — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 20:29:27 +0000

July 13, 2011

President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez sent his congratulations to Argentine Head of State Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner for the announcement she made about having a grandson.

“Maximo, our son will be father. I’m going to have a grandson! CFK grandmother! God takes away, God gives you”, the Argentine president had posted today.

“Cristina, you will be a grandmother! Wonderful! Welcome to the club! Give my congrats to Maximo and his wife! Long live life!”, Chavez wrote.

Plane crashes in Brazil leaving 16 deaths

RedactorR — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:22:40 +0000

Recife, July 13, 2011
_______________________________________________________

A plain with 14 passengers aboard and 2 crews crashed this morning (7:30 am) in a field near to Boa Viagem beach, Recife, Brazilian sources confirmed to M24Digital.

Unfortunately, the 16 people died, the sources said. The plain took off from Guararapes (PE) International Airport at 6:30 am bound Recife.

Firefighters put out the flames of the crash airplane but no passenger could be rescue alive.

Legal Medicine staff arrived at the place to begin the investigation in order to determine the accident causes.

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