
A wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern were addressed by the UK Minister for the Overseas Territories Henry Bellingham and leaders from the Overseas Territories. The OTs Consultative Council is currently meeting in London.

Brazilian president-elect Dilma Rousseff must inject more life to the institutional strength of Mercosur and the Union of South American Nations, Unasur, and then push for integration with Central America and the Caribbean, said Marco Aurelio García, President Lula da Silva advisor on foreign affairs.

Representatives from Mercosur, Africa, China, India and multilateral organizations such as the United Nations called for the right to “food sovereignty”, thus preventing the international corporations from taking control of the seeds’ market.

Argentina has sent an expert in storage and humanitarian aid to the Caribbean island of Santa Lucia, recently ravaged by hurricane Tomas. The expert and 20 boxes containing sufficient pills to supply 600.000 litres of drinking water was expected to arrive in the island this week.

Uruguayan businessman Gaston Savoi long established in South Africa is facing corruption and tax evasion charges in association with top figures from the ruling African National Congress party belonging to the provincial governments of KwaZulu-Natal and Northern Cape.

A new strategy that will reinvigorate the UK's relationship with its Overseas Territories will be at the heart of discussions at the annual Overseas Territories Consultative Council which begins Wednesday 17 November.

Argentine Economy Minister Amado Boudou confirmed that the ministry sent a letter to the Paris Club in order to initiate negotiations and establish a course of action for the cancellation of debt, although no specific dates were mentioned.

Brazil’s Lula da Silva and former Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez are the most probable candidates for the Union of South American Nations, Unasur, secretary general chair, according to Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa. Ecuador currently holds the rotating presidency of Unasur.

UK market research company Verdict has forecast the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton and their subsequent Royal Wedding next year could give a £620m (billion US dollars) boost to the economy.

A meeting of Euro zone ministers in Brussels ended with a promise to work towards further help for Ireland. The EU monetary affairs commissioner, Olli Rehn, said the 27-country bloc would intensify work on a support programme for Ireland - should Dublin request one.