Politics

• Thursday, July 22nd 2010 - 09:05 UTC

  Uruguay/Argentina on 48 hours ‘reflection period’ before retaking negotiations

  

  Uruguay and Argentina agreed Wednesday on a 48 hours “reflection period” before retaking formal negotiations for the joint monitoring of the River Uruguay, which is at the heart of the pulp mills dispute, and alleged contamination, between the neighbouring countries.

• Thursday, July 22nd 2010 - 02:31 UTC

  Mercosur driving the strong recovery in Latam and Caribbean, says UN

  

  Latin America and the Caribbean is consolidating its recovery from the global economic slowdown, posting higher-than-expected growth in recent months. Although some countries in the region face serious pitfalls, according to a new United Nations report, Mercosur stands out as driving the revival.

• Wednesday, July 21st 2010 - 07:19 UTC

  European farmers want “solid” policies to protect them from Mercosur

  

  The European Farmers and Agri-Cooperatives organizations, Copa-Cogeca, called on Tuesday for a “solid” Common Agriculture Policy, CAP, to protect European farmers from Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) countries’ competition.

• Wednesday, July 21st 2010 - 07:14 UTC

  Amnesty International praises Argentina’s same-sex marriage landmark bill

  

  Amnesty International welcomed Argentina's landmark decision on Thursday to become the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage.

• Wednesday, July 21st 2010 - 07:04 UTC

  Peru and Chile agree on confidence building measures in defence affairs

  

  Peruvian Defence Minister Rafael Rey said this week that representatives from Chile and Peru would meet next Monday for the first time in an effort to establish common criteria for approving military expenditures. Rey also said he would meet with his Chilean counterpart, Jaime Ravinet, in Lima in August.

• Wednesday, July 21st 2010 - 06:52 UTC

  Forty million world-wide learning Chinese at Confucius Institutes

  

  Over 40 million people are learning the Chinese language and interest keeps growing as Beijing’s international influence expands world wide according to Xu Lin, Director of the Institute to promote the language overseas and head of the Confucius Institute. ”Achievements are noticeable in the promotion of Chinese language and culture.

• Wednesday, July 21st 2010 - 06:16 UTC

  Chile begins reconstruction of cities hit by February earthquake

  

  Nearly five months after the Feb. 27 earthquake in Chile, the cities of Talca and Curicó, two of the hardest hit areas have begun the first steps to rebuild their historic centres, which together account for almost 364 blocks of severely damaged landscapes.

• Wednesday, July 21st 2010 - 06:10 UTC

  Cameron admits to having cheered for Germany in World Cup

  

  British Prime Minister David Cameron made a soul-searing confession before the eyes of the world on Tuesday: he admitted having cheered for Germany after they vanquished England at the World Cup.

• Wednesday, July 21st 2010 - 05:45 UTC

  Obama orders National Guard troops deployed along US/Mexico border

  

  United States National Guard troops will begin deploying along the US-Mexico border from 1 August, officials say. The 1,200 troops, ordered to the border by President Barack Obama, form part of efforts to tackle illegal immigration and drug-trafficking.They will be in the four border states with Arizona getting the largest share.

• Tuesday, July 20th 2010 - 23:47 UTC

  Argentina blockading the Falklands with “no respect for Islanders human rights”

  

  The Falklands Chamber of Commerce claims that Argentina has in effect imposed a sea-blockade of the civilian population of the Falklands with no respect whatsoever for the human rights of the Falkland Islanders, while at the same time it cynically promotes commitment to human rights on the world stage.