
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and new British Foreign Minister William Hague met on Friday in Washington, vowing to strengthen the U.S.-Britain strategic alliance on addressing common challenges.

The German economy—Europe's largest—expanded 0.2% in the first quarter of 2010, beating forecasts of zero growth. Many analysts predicted German GDP would stagnate in the quarter.

Nigeria's state-run oil firm Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and China State Construction Engineering Corporation have signed a 23 billion US dollars deal.

Land Rover's global sales almost doubled last month, with demand for the 4x4 vehicles growing strongly as the world economy recovers.

Russia is planning to strengthen its relations with 61 countries worldwide, including Chile. It is exploring options in Latin America for the development of nuclear power and military sales, a document from its ministry of foreign affairs stated this week.

Miriam González, the Spanish wife of recently appointed United Kingdom Deputy Prime Minister Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, has captured the imagination of the media, especially in her native country.

Europe should brace itself for a summer of sudden flight disruptions caused by the Icelandic volcano, experts have warned. Air-control authorities and geologists agree there are likely to be more cancellations to come as computerised projections try to pinpoint where the ash clouds will float next at the whim of shifting winds.

Portugal has become the latest country to introduce austerity measures, after both Greece and Spain took similar steps to stabilize public finances in the face of massive debt.

While the Argentine government remained silent, European Union country ambassadors showed up at the Argentine Congress Thursday in order to protest against food import restrictions. The ambassadors, however, saved their criticisms and instead spoke in a conciliatory tone before the Lower House Foreign Affairs Committee, although they did not hide their “growing worry.”

The European Union and Mercosur will officially re-launch negotiations for a trade and cooperation agreement they have been discussing since 1999 in the coming Madrid summit, in spite of fears about their farm sectors from several European countries, said the EU representative for Paraguay and Uruguay.