International

Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 03:06 UTC
Mexico to open state-run oil industry to private sector ending 75-year constitutional ban

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto is making the most daring gamble of his 8-month-old presidency with a proposal to lift a 75 year-old ban on private companies investing in the state-run oil industry, a cornerstone of Mexico’s national pride that’s seen production plummet in recent decades.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 02:58 UTC
Brazilian Navy incorporates third UK built Amazonas class ocean patrol vessel

The newest ship in the Brazilian navy's fleet has left the UK on a journey of more than 16.100km to Brazil. “Araguari” which sailed from Portsmouth is the third of three Amazonas class ocean patrol vessels delivered to the Brazilian navy by BAE Systems.
Tuesday, August 13th 2013 - 02:27 UTC
UK warns Spain with legal action over the tight controls at the Gibraltar border

Britain warned Spain it might take legal action to try to force Madrid to abandon tighter controls at the border with the contested British overseas territory of Gibraltar in what it called an “unprecedented” step against a European ally.
Monday, August 12th 2013 - 18:21 UTC
Pope calls for respect for human life from conception; sends Ramadan message to Muslims

Respect for human life from conception until natural death is something children must be taught, not mainly with words, but by the example of their parents, Pope Francis said. “Parents are called to pass on to their children the awareness that life must always be defended,” Pope Francis wrote in a message to people joining in the Brazilian Catholic Church's celebration of Family Week, which began August 11.
Monday, August 12th 2013 - 18:15 UTC
Assange says Americans have a debt of gratitude with leaker Snowden

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says Americans owe US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden a debt of gratitude because his leaks prompted President Barack Obama to promise an overhaul of secret surveillance.
Monday, August 12th 2013 - 18:10 UTC
Brazil and Uruguay want a “two speeds” Mercosur agreement with the EU

Brazil and Uruguay want to speed a trade agreement with the European Union but without abandoning Mercosur, and making it clear that they are willing to advance at “a different speed” than the rest of the group’s members, revealed a reliable source from the government of President Jose Mujica in Montevideo.
Monday, August 12th 2013 - 18:06 UTC
EU confirms no block-to-individual Mercosur member trade negotiation has been requested

The 28-country European Union underscored the potential benefits of a free trade agreement with Mercosur and revealed that so far no country member of the group has requested to a bilateral negotiation.
Monday, August 12th 2013 - 18:03 UTC
Brazil urged for agreement with EU, since next year it will lose trade preferences

Brazil, Latin America‘s biggest economy, is planning to try to negotiate a separate trade deal with the European Union, Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said in remarks published Monday.
Monday, August 12th 2013 - 07:25 UTC
Uruguay hosts four-day long UN conference on population development

Uruguay together with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (Eclac) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) are holding a four day conference in Montevideo as of Monday under the heading of First session of the regional conference on population and development in Latam and the Caribbean.
Monday, August 12th 2013 - 01:45 UTC
Falklands and Gibraltar: Spain considering a joint front with Argentina at UN, says Madrid media

Spanish Foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo will be visiting Argentina next September to meet with his peer Hector Timerman to discuss the Gibraltar and Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty disputes and consider the possibility of a joint front.