
The European Union on Wednesday signed trade agreements with Central America, Peru and Colombia, while some Latin American leaders criticized such deals as only favouring rich countries.

World shares fell on Wednesday after a surprise move by Germany to ban some types of short-selling of financial products. Bans on short selling have been introduced in recent times of financial instability by both the UK and US.

Brazil’s head of the Lower House, Michel Temer will complete the incumbent presidential ticket with Dilma Rousseff for next October’s presidential election when the eight year two-mandates of Lula da Silva will be ending.

United States President Barack Obama was voted as the most amiable national leader according to the 2010 Barómetro Iberoamericano de Gobernabilidad, an organization that conducts studies of governmental and economic institutions in Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.

The United States government is currently looking at the possibility of extending the “Visa Waiver” program to include citizens of Chile, Argentina and Brazil, Rodger Dow, President of the U.S. travel association, announced recently.

The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) sent Wednesday a letter of congratulations to the new Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth, Jeremy Browne MP, who has responsibility for South America and the Overseas Territories.
FIG also thanked Mr. Browne for his strong stand in support of Falklands’ interests.

The European Union-Latin America-Caribbean leaders’ summit wrapped up on Tuesday in Madrid with unanimous agreement about the need to develop new instruments of global governance for a multi-polar world and a commitment “to reject any form of protectionism”.

Brazil President Lula da Silva in what seemed very much as a farewell ceremony, paid tribute to the excellent relations with Spain and special links with Argentina on being honoured with a prize that underlines economic development and social cohesion.

Central American countries and the European Union (EU) reached on Tuesday an agreement on the first ever free trade deal between the two regions, they announced in a joint statement.

Chilean president Sebastián Piñera said that the results of the VI European Union/Latam-Caribbean leaders’ summit in Madrid which closed Tuesday was “insufficient” since adequate solutions for present-day problems faced by the regions were lacking.