
Mercosur and Pacific Alliance foreign affairs ministers met this weekend in Colombia for a first round of talks on integration mechanisms and the potential for specific alliances. The idea of the meeting was first launched by Chile with the purpose of a 'convergence' of interests and a possible future integration.

United Kingdom Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire has become the first UK Minister to visit Cuba in almost ten years. His three-day time in the country included meetings with senior government figures and others to discuss bilateral relations including trade and investment. He will also raise UK concerns about the human rights situation.

The Pacific Alliance and Mercosur will be holding a two-day ministerial informative meeting in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, beginning this Friday, a first approach to a possible convergence of the two groupings, according to official releases.

One of the UK’s best-known designers, Tom Dixon, presented his most recent collection – entitled ‘Club’ - at an event held this last week at the Interdesign Store in Santiago, marking the launch of the British Month 2014 in Chile.

The World Bank's Doing Business global rating is not very enthusiastic about Latin American and the Caribbean which only first surfaces in position 34 out of the 189 countries considered.

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla were welcomed to Colombia with military honors on Wednesday, at a ceremony led by the president Juan Manuel Santos to mark the couple's first royal visit to the country.

The United Nations General Assembly for the 21st time on Tuesday condemned the economic and trade embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba, a policy that has been in place for over half a century. 188 countries out of 193 voted against the restrictions imposed by Washington against Cuba, which date back to 1962, three years after Fidel Castro took power in a revolution.

The Organization of American States Secretary General, (OAS), congratulated the Uruguayan people on their democratic spirit shown during Sunday´s general elections. He also extended praise to the two candidates that advanced to the second round, Tabare Vazquez from the ruling Broad Front, and Luis Lacalle Pou from the National Party.

Uruguay's ruling Broad Front coalition, despite pollster forecasts to the contrary, confirmed their dominance of local politics and are likely to enjoy a parliamentary majority, after the Sunday presidential election that left Tabare Vazquez as favorite to succeed José Mujica as head of state.

Britain's Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will pay a nine-day visit to Colombia and Mexico, Clarence House residence announced. The heir to the throne and the Duchess of Cornwall will arrive in Colombia on Tuesday October 28 and will remain until November 2, before leaving for Mexico until November 5.