
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) honoured Brazilian President Lula da Silva for his leadership in the fight against hunger and inadequate nutrition in his country and across the world.

Sir Elton John, 63, has been banned from performing in Egypt over his views on homosexuality and religion. The outspoken British pop icon was due to play a private show on 18 May but has been told he is not welcome.

A former Venezuelan defence minister who has become a staunch critic of President Hugo Chávez was sentenced to almost eight years in prison for alleged misappropriation of funds in connection with the purchase of military equipment.

The Falkland Islands Government intend to take a, “stronger and more productive stance” at next month’s UN meeting in New York of the United Nations ‘Special Committee of 24’ on decolonisation.

French resistance to the resumption of Mercosur European Union trade talks caused great disappointment among the block’s members, but Brazil believes it has a strong bargaining chip for a greater opening of the European agriculture market: the several billions US dollars fighter planes contract for the Brazilian Air Force.

Leading Brazilian presidential candidate José Serra said it was “very good” for his campaign that Venezuela’s leader Hugo Chávez should openly support his main competitor incumbent hopeful Dilma Rousseff and again warned about the shortcomings of Mercosur.

Negotiators for Conservative David Cameron and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg completed their third session in search of a deal to form a new British government as they faced pressure to reassure investors over political stability.

The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) agreed over the week end to boost defence expending transparency to ensure regional stability which, according to Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador is threatened by a controversial military agreement between United States and Colombia.

Legislative Assembly member Sharon Halford is attending the annual British Islands and Mediterranean Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in the Isle of Man which opens Monday until May 14.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party and its coalition allies have been defeated in regional elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, projections suggest. If confirmed, this would see Ms. Merkel's national coalition lose its slim majority in the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat.