Politics

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 18:52 UTC

  Latin America's English proficiency ‘very low’

  

  Despite a strong economy attracting new international business and increasing the need for multilingual professionals in the workforce, Chile remains one of the countries with the lowest levels of competency in English among adults worldwide, according to a study released Friday.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:49 UTC

  Paraguay normalizes relations with Venezuela and Brazil; Bolivia next

  

  The new Paraguayan government of President Horacio Cartes is rapidly formalizing relations with its Mercosur partners. On Tuesday the ambassador that will represent the country in Venezuela, Enrique Jara took the oath of office, which in fact means full normalization of relations with the country ruled by Nicolas Maduro.The ceremony at Government House in Asunción was headed by President Cartes and cabinet members.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:38 UTC

  Falklands/Malvinas: Visiting MPs refuse to organize working group on the Islands sovereignty

  

  A group of visiting British MPs and Lords refused to organize a working group over the issue of Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty with their Argentine counterparts during a visit to Congress in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:32 UTC

  Britain dismisses suggestion of any bilateral negotiations with Spain on Gibraltar

  

  The British Government has dismissed any suggestion of a return to bilateralism with Spain over Gibraltar. In a response to a question tabled in the House of Commons, Europe Minister David Lidington repeated Britain’s long-standing commitment to the people of Gibraltar over sovereignty.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:27 UTC

  Foreign Office analyzes OAS initiative on drugs policy: fears some Latam countries may dump coercive policies

  

  The OAS’s June 2013 paper on the drugs problem in the Americas responded to a growing debate in Latin America and has been seen as groundbreaking. Its underlying message is that current approaches to drugs are not working and that change is needed. But there is no common view in the region on the way forward, according to a paper from the Foreign Office.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:24 UTC

  Guyana terms “illegal” and “spurious” Venezuela's claim over the Esequibo

  

  Guyana's Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett termed “illegal” and “spurious” Venezuela's claim over Essequibo, which is equivalent to a third of the former British colony territory.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 00:16 UTC

  Uruguay sends bill to parliament banning ownership of land by foreign companies or governments

  

  The Uruguayan government sent a draft law to parliament Tuesday that would ban the ownership of land by companies if they are in any way linked to foreign countries. The measure states it “aims to avoid the risk of foreign states breaching the sovereignty of the Uruguayan state in the absence of appropriate regulations and occupying a significant position in agricultural activity.”

• Tuesday, November 12th 2013 - 23:54 UTC

  Brazil and Peru seal strong integration and cooperation alliance

  

  Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and Brazil's Dilma Rousseff agreed on Monday to promote regional integration and trade as they marked the 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic alliance. Rousseff arrived Monday in Lima on her fourth visit to Peru since Humala took power.

• Tuesday, November 12th 2013 - 12:06 UTC

  Falkland Islands' legislators elect three MLAs to the Executive Council

  

  The first formal meeting of the newly elected Legislative Assembly was held on Monday morning in Stanley and it was confirmed that last Friday, following the election result the newly elected members of the Legislative Assembly met to discuss and distribute portfolio responsibilities.

• Tuesday, November 12th 2013 - 08:14 UTC

  Maduro promises more price controls while bargain hunters empty appliance stores

  

  Venezuelans stood in lines outside appliance stores for a fourth day on Monday after President Nicolas Maduro deployed the army to force retailers to slash prices. After taking control of several appliance stores last week, Maduro vowed late Sunday to step up inspections of businesses selling shoes, clothes, automobiles and other goods to make sure they aren’t gouging consumers.