War has been declared on the streets of London against a vile inconsiderate scourge. Bands of vigilantes have started roaming buses, trams and tube carriages desperate to brutalise the offenders of society’s norms.

Thirty kilometers east of Punta del Este, the tiny hideaway of José Ignacio nestles in the sand dunes along the Atlantic coast of Uruguay. A coastal resort now favoured by those for whom Punta del Este has lost its allure and exclusivity, José Ignacio is overrun by the beautiful people from December to February: the author Martin Amis and the singer Shakira are said to have homes here, while stars of the fashion world Gisele Bündchen, Naomi Cambpell and Mario Testino have all frequented these Uruguayan shores.

Having experienced the beauty of José Ignacio over New Year, I was keen to return under less hectic circumstances and enjoy all that the fishing village had to offer.

Rising fuel prices are causing transportation companies to shutter and pushing some tuckers to creative forms of protest.

For the fourth month in a row, the economy lost jobs in April… but President Bush is promising that those rebate checks will turn things around.

Evacuations continue in Chile as the Chaitén volcano spewed ash into the sky anew yesterday, creating a 6 mile high plume, visible from 150 miles away. Chilean government officials were alarmed by the level of volcanic activity and stepped up efforts to evacuate towns within a 30 mile radius of the peak.

Boca’s infamous stadium, La Bombonera, has been suspended from the Copa Libertadores after a linesman was hit on the forehead by ice hurled from the stands.

Condemned to life in prison for murdering his wife, a Banfield man was given a reprieve by way of an unusual legal decision. Justices reviewing his case reduced the sentence to 15 years after determining his wife had provoked her murder by having an affair.

If you’re beginning to feel a tad claustrophobic in the bustling streets of Buenos Aires, then by all means strap on a pack and head down to El Bolsón. Take a breather with some small town tranquility and big time mountain climbing.

Alpargatas are as fundamentally Argentine as mate and dulce de leche. The traditional shoes are worn by Argentines of all shapes, sizes and classes; from the Patagonian cordillera to the porteño avenidas. They’ve even made the fashion culture leap to America, spurred on by the philanthropic mission behind TOMS.

Violent clashes at polling places killed one man and wounded dozens of others on Sunday in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Despite the violence and government attempts to stifle the vote, the referendum passed with over 80% of the vote.