
Argentina is trying to impose an economic blockade on the Falkland Islands, said Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne who made plain clear that the people of the Falklands are free to determine their own political arrangements and were not to be part of ”some sort of trade-off” over their heads.

It is possible to turn the inefficient growth patterns of today’s world economy around but this requires a redefinition of priorities and the political conviction to overcome the dogmas of the past, said ILO chief Juan Somavia, in his addess to the plenary session of the International Labour Conference.

Anti-corruption group Transparency International warned in a new report released Thursday that the close relationship between business and government has enabled corruption and undermined economic stability in Europe.

The UK regretted as ‘misfortunate” and “strange” the announced attendance of Argentine president Cristina Fernandez next week to the UN Decolonisation Committee to claim sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands.

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez will personally go to register his candidacy for the October 7 election on Monday, officials said, brushing aside rumors he might be too unwell from cancer or considering a successor.Chavez, 57, is after re-election despite a year-long battle against an unspecified cancer.

Venezuela's opposition accused the government on Wednesday of turning a blind eye to neighbouring Guyana's oil exploration in a border region claimed by Venezuela, potentially inflaming a territorial dispute that dates back more than a century.

Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico signed an accord Wednesday creating the Pacific Alliance to more deeply integrate their economies, and develop new trade links with the Asia-Pacific region.

President Cristina Fernandez has yet to fulfil her wish to have the whole Argentine opposition represented next to her when she addresses the UN Decolonization Committee claiming sovereignty over the disputed Falklands/Malvinas Islands next week.

Brazil announced plans to protect an additional 10 000km² of land and pledged not to let economic woes stop it from implementing other measures to protect the environment.

Brazil's JBS, the world's largest meat company, said on Wednesday it would sue environmental organization Greenpeace for what it called false claims that could cause it to lose business and hurt its image.