Stories for July 29th 2010
Colombia-Venezuela diplomatic rift will test effectiveness of Unasur
The extraordinary meeting of Unasur (Union of South American Nations) foreign affairs ministers convened by Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa for this Thursday should help to search for ‘solutions’ to the diplomatic rift between Venezuela and Colombia.
President-elect Santos ratifies “democratic security” policy of Colombia’s Uribe
Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos named former Senator Rodrigo Rivera as his defense minister in an apparent bid to maintain the outgoing government’s pressure on guerrillas.
United and Continental closer to becoming the world’s largest carrier
Continental and United airlines received this week the approval of European regulators permitting the two carriers to move ahead with their plans to create the world’s largest carrier.
Galapagos Islands removed from list of endangered sites
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee (WHC) Wednesday removed the Galapagos Islands (belonging to Ecuador) from its list of endangered sites, reported the organization currently holding its 34th session in Brazil.
UN General Assembly declare access to clean water a human right
Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights, the General Assembly declared Wednesday, voicing deep concern that almost 900 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water.
U.S. Judge blocks key parts of Arizona’s controversial immigration law
A US federal judge in Arizona has blocked key parts of the state's strict immigration law a day before it was due to take effect. The judge blocked a requirement that police check the immigration status of criminal suspects whom they had stopped while enforcing other laws.
UK Overseas Territories “fifth in world league table of bird extinctions”
Put together the UK’s 16 Overseas Territories (including Falklands and South Georgia) are fifth in the world league table of bird extinctions, with at least ten species from the territories going to oblivion since 1500AD, partially or wholly because of the impact of non-native mammals, such as rats, feral cats, mice and pigs, according to BirdLife International site.
US reverses decision and extends visa to leading Colombian journalist
The United States State Department has reversed its decision to deny a visa to a leading Colombian journalist to take up a prestigious fellowship position.
Chile and Bolivia jointly celebrate mine-clearance in border areas
Chile and Bolivian Defence ministers and Army commanders will be meeting Thursday to sign documents declaring Fields free of mines, the border areas of Tambo Quemado 1 and Tambo Quemado 2 along their common border which until only recently were planted with thousands of mines.
India wants to “deepen and expand” trade accords with Mercosur
The Indian ambassador to Argentina Rengaraj Viswanathan said his country, currently the fourth largest economy in the world, is looking to “deepen and expand” its accords with the Mercosur and highlighted that Indian businessmen “use Argentina as a platform” to access regional markets.
