Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cancelled on Monday a trip to Brazil this week without explanation amid criticism in Teheran from the country’s clerical leader and US concern about Iran’s growing influence in Latin America.
Panamanian opposition leader and supermarket mogul Ricardo Martinelli has won Panama's presidential election, the head of the country's electoral tribunal said Sunday. Martinelli, of the conservative Democratic Change party, edged out former Housing Minister Balbina Herrera of Panama's ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party, said Erasmo Pinilla of the electoral tribunal.
Three countries worst hit by the global swine flu outbreak have urged economic partners not to allow it to affect international trade. Agricultural ministers from Canada, Mexico and the US said the outbreak should not be used as a reason for unnecessary trade restrictions.
Former US president and Nobel Peace Prize Jimmy Carter was honoured Sunday by the governor of Brazil’s powerhouse state Sao Paulo for his contributions to the development of the state.
Unemployment in the extreme south Chilean region of Magallanes more than doubled during this year’s first quarter having reached 5.6% compared to the same period a year ago according to the latest official Statistics Office release.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad begins this week a tour of South America visiting three countries, Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela, reported Iranian Foreign Affairs minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the H1N1 flu virus continues to spread around the world, with the number of confirmed cases reaching 615, in 17 countries. WHO officials say they expect to raise their alert to the highest level but experts say the spread of the flu is slowing down in Mexico, where the outbreak started.
Bolivian President Evo Morales announced the nationalization of the local unit of BP's aviation division on Friday, further tightening state control over the energy industry. At a May Day rally, Morales said he signed a decree to take over Air BP, a division of British oil major BP Plc.
There are growing expectations in the Florida based tourism industry that the US government will let US citizens vacation in Cuba. Next Monday begins a trade fair, considered the largest Caribbean island showcase for tour operators, travel agents, airline and cruise representatives from around the world and all eyes are set on the political decision to open Cuba to US tourists after a 47-year trade embargo, reports USA Today.
Cuba reacted strongly on Thursday calling the US government an “international criminal” after Washington said it was keeping Cuba on a list of countries that allegedly support terrorism. The US State Department released a report lumping Cuba with Iran, Syria and Sudan on a blacklist as sponsors of terrorism.