Paper mill to move

A Spanish company building a paper pulp mill in Uruguay announced it would relocate the mill to a different location. The move is a result of Argentine protests and governmental concern over the environmental consequences of the project.

Juan Luis Arregui, president of Spain's Ence, made the announcement in Montevideo at a press conference in mid-September. 

The mill is rumoured to be moving to Paysandu, a move which Argentine residents in Colon on the other side of the river reject.
 
The dispute, which has involved both Uruguayan and Argentine governments, reached the International Court of Justice, the ICJ, at The Hague earlier this year.

Concern grows for missing witness

A key witness in the trial of a former police chief during the dictatorship has been reported missing.

The 77yr old Jorge Julio López, who was last seen on Sunday 17th September,  failed to turn appear in court the following Monday to testify.

López had been testifying in the trial of Miguel Etchecolatz, a former police chief, who has since been sentenced to life imprisonment for torture, murder and kidnappings during the military dictatorship (1976-1983). During the trial it was revealed that López had been tortured by Etchecolatz during that time.
 
At the time of going to print, no new evidence had been discovered for the reasons for his disappearance and search efforts were still in action.

First concert since Cromagnon fire for band
 
Controversial Argentine band ‘Callejeros’ played for the first time in 2 years since their last performance which was on the night of the tragic 2004 Cromagnon fire that killed 194 people. 

Under a heavy security presence, over 16,000 fans flooded the soccer stadium in Cordoba to watch the band perform.

Although some families lobbied to prevent the band from performing, part of the stadium was devoted to the families of the victims - some of which wore special t-shirts in support of the band. 

Callejeros has had a difficult time booking shows since the tragedy because of opposition from local politicians who fear a political backlash, but this concert proved the band’s popularity among young Argentines.

Argentina wins Davis Cup Semi-final

Argentina completed a decisive victory over Australia in the Davis Cup in Buenos Aires at the end of September finishing with a 5-0 score. 

The much anticipated semi-final was a virtual walkover for the Argentines who had easily beaten the Australians by the second day. Former number one Lleyton Hewitt was beaten in a five set victory by Jose Acasuso – a game which was interrupted by rain.

Mark Philippoussis was demolished by Argentina David Nalbandian, and Paul Hanley, forced to pay a singles match due to team injuries, was quickly beaten by Agustin Calleri on Sunday.

This is the first time in 25 years that Argentina will play in the final of the Davis Cup.

Riquelme quits Argentine side

After Argentina’s disappointing exit at the quarter final stage of this year’s World Cup, captain Juan Roman Riquelme has announced his international retirement at the premature age of 28.

Citing press criticism and the ailing health of his mother, Riquelme said, “I can take criticism but family comes before soccer, I have no right to make her suffer due to my part in the national side.”

New coach Alfio Basile will now have to decide who takes over as captain, with Argentine Gabriel Heinze, who plays for Manchester United, among the contenders to take over the armband.

 News from around the world

Chavez – Bush tension at the United Nations

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez attacked American president George Bush, calling him ‘The Devil’ in front of the United Nations general assembly.

Chavez went on to say that there was a smell of sulfer around the lectern where Bush had spoken days before. He made the sign of the cross while speaking about Bush and said that he was protected from Bush’s ‘black magic’ and could therefore say whatever he wanted.

Both leaders have a long history of 'talking mess' but never to each other's face. After the speech, in an apparent escalation of tensions between the two countries, the Venezuelan foreign minister was detained for 90mins at the airport where he was 'verbally abused' and 'strip searched'. 

US officials deny the incident had any relation to Chavez's speech but say that it was because he purchased his plane ticket with cash. 

Eight facing trial in Uruguay

Judge Luis Charles has ordered the indictment of eight former police and army officers accused of involvement in ‘disappearances’ of left-wing opponents during Uruguay’s military dictatorship of 1973-1985.

Following a Supreme Court decision to allow the trials, the men will be the first to be charged in Uruguay with human rights violations committed during this period.

This, despite a 1986 amnesty passed by the Uruguayan congress for violations that took place during the dictatorship.

The charges relate to crimes committed in neighbouring Argentina in 1976 and are therefore outside the scope of that law.

 20 years for Peru spy chief

Vladimiro Montesinas, Peru’s former intelligence chief has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for his part in the sale of arms to Colombian rebels.

The left-wing FARC had 10,000 assault rifles parachuted into Colombia seven years ago as part of the deal.

Montesinos, who served in the Fujimori regime, is already in prison for corruption and conspiracy to overthrow the government. His co-accused received terms of up to 15 years and included a French financier, and a Lebanese arms dealer - Sarkis Soghanalian known as the ‘merchant of death’.

Non-aligned summit in Cuba

The 14th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was held in September in Havana, Cuba.

The movement, which formed in 1955, included countries which are not aligned with any of the historic super powers.

Amongst the 118 attendees, speeches were made by non gratas such as Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Evo Morales of Bolivia.

Guided by principals of mutual respect and non aggression, items up for discussion included relations with the US, the right of Iran to pursue its civil nuclear programme and condemnation of Israel’s actions in Lebanon.

The summit closed with a communiqué calling for the end of America’s economic boycott of Cuba. 

Brazilians to vote in October elections
Brazilian elections are slated to go into a second round as a result of a recent scandal, opposition candidate Geraldo Alckmin has said. 

The scandal erupted when allegations of people with links to the party of the current president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, were caught attempting to purchase information that would incriminate members of Alckmin's party in other scandals.

An aide to Lula Da Silva has since resigned. Brazil's electoral court has been investigating Lula's possible connections to the crime and has said his candidacy could be nullified if he is found guilty of any wrong-doing. 

Before the scandal, polls indicated that Lula could win the elections on 1st October outright and not be forced into a run off election with Alckmin though it is uncertain if the scandal has significantly affected voters’ intentions.

Death of bin Laden

Speculations about the death of terrorist Osama bin Laden have surfaced resulting from the leak of an intelligence document by a French reporter.

The memo states that bin Laden died in august from typhoid adding that he could not be treated because of the inability to access medical supplies. 

While there has been no evidence to either confirm or deny these reports, French president Jacques Chirac has ordered an investigation into who exactly leaked the information, tacitly confirming the existence of the memo itself.

The US is offering US$25m for information leading to his capture and conviction. If you know where he is hiding, feel free to contact the CIA at 1-800-420-5805 or visit their website at www.cia.gov.

 Pope in more trouble

As if Pope Joseph Ratzinger wasn’t in enough trouble for upsetting the world’s Muslims, he may also be in strife with the Jewish community following publication of a new book.

According to German historian Volker Laube, Ratzinger was a member of the Hitler Youth in World War II.

Using period archives, Laube claims that Ratzinger joined the organisation as a 14yr old in 1941 during his time at the seminary of St Michael in the city of Traunstein.

The book raises the controversial topic of collusion between the Catholic Church and the Nazi regime during the Second World War.