MEDIA-ARGENTINA: Fighting Stereotypes of Slums ‘From the Inside’
BUENOS AIRES, Dec 5 (IPS) – A group of local residents from Villa 1-11-14, a slum on the outskirts of the Argentine capital, put out a magazine aimed at breaking down the stereotypes propagated by the mainstream media, which associate neighbourhoods like theirs only with drugs, crime and marginalisation.
Textron wins $46 million contract to build armored vehicles for Colombia (New Orleans Times-Picayune)
Textron Marine & Land Systems has been awarded a $45.6 million contract to build 39 armored personnel carriers for the Colombian Army. Work on the carriers, which are a variant of the armored security vehicles Textron builds for the…
BOLIVIA: Morales Calls for Unity after Landslide Victory
LA PAZ, Dec 7 (IPS) – Bolivian President Evo Morales called on the opposition to join his “democratic revolution based on votes” to continue building a multi-ethnic or “pluri-national” state, after winning reelection with more than 63 percent of the vote Sunday.
PARAGUAY: Migrants Mainly Young Undocumented Guaraní-Speakers
ASUNCIÓN, Dec 3 (IPS) – Freddy Garcete, a 50-year-old painter who works in the construction industry, travelled to Spain in search of better wages two years ago, becoming one of the 500,000 Paraguayans forced to seek work abroad because of the conditions at home.
CARIBBEAN: Closer Ties with Latin America Jolted by EU Banana Deal
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Dec 3 (IPS) – As the European Union gets ready to sign an agreement with Latin America to end a 16-year trade war over bananas, Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries are expressing their frustration at the perceived double standards of the Latin Americans leaders.
HONDURAS: Lobo Seeks International Recognition
TEGUCIGALPA, Dec 8 (IPS) – Porfirio Lobo set out on an international tour Tuesday in an effort to gain recognition from the international community of his recent triumph in the presidential elections organised by the de facto government in Honduras that seized power five months ago.
Winn-Dixie Triples Fuelperks Rewards in Jacksonville, Panama City (Supermarket News)
Winn-Dixie Stores is tripling its fuelperks! rewards in its Jacksonville and Panama City markets by adding an additional 10 cents-per-gallon savings on gas for every $50 customers spend on select gift cards.
Nuptials not so ‘convenient’ in Costa Rica – Lengthy jail terms for Jamaicans found guilty of business marriages (Jamaica Gleaner)
Authorities in Costa Rica have warned that Jamaicans found guilty of business marriages could face lengthy prison sentences. Such business marriages, or marriages of convenience, occur when foreigners pay Costa Ricans to become their spouse in order…
CULTURE-IBEROAMERICA: Women MisPrized
MEXICO CITY, Dec 3 (IPS) – “The judges are usually men, and they tend to prefer men’s writing,” Mexican journalist and novelist Elena Poniatowska, a perennial candidate for the Miguel de Cervantes Prize, said with a note of resignation in her voice.
Peru May Sell $2.14 Billion of Bonds Next Year, Andina Says (Bloomberg)
Dec. 8 (Bloomberg) – Peru may sell up to $2.14 billion of bonds in overseas markets next year, state-owned Andina reported. The government may sell as much as 2.92 billion soles ($1.02 billion) of debt in the local market, Andina said, citing the 2010 public sector debt law published today.
HONDURAS: What Now?
TEGUCIGALPA, Dec 3 (IPS) – “Mr. Zelaya is history,” said Honduras’ de facto President Roberto Micheletti after Congress voted not to allow the president ousted in the Jun. 28 coup to serve out the last few weeks of his term.
DEVELOPMENT: Afro-Uruguayan Women Find Their Own Way Home
MONTEVIDEO, Dec 7 (IPS) – Contrary to popular belief in Uruguay, the capital city’s black population is no longer concentrated in neighbourhoods like Barrio Sur, Palermo and Cordón, which were historically home to the majority of African descendents and remain heavily steeped in Afro-Uruguayan culture.
