Politics

• Thursday, December 12th 2013 - 21:16 UTC

  Foreign Office updates Parliament on major UK/Overseas Territories conference

  

  The commitment of the governments of the Overseas Territories and the UK to continue to work together in partnership was underlined by Foreign Office minister Mark Simmonds MP when he updated Parliament on the outcome of this year’s Joint Ministerial Council, which was attended by leaders from eleven OTs including the Falkland Islands.

• Thursday, December 12th 2013 - 06:54 UTC

  EU admits difficulties and requests Mercosur to delay the exchange of tariff proposals

  

  The European Union has formally requested that the exchange of tariff proposals with Mercosur for the creation of a cooperation and free trade zone, originally scheduled for next week, be delayed until 2014. The message was received by the Brazilian delegation at the recent WTO Bali discussions.

• Thursday, December 12th 2013 - 06:39 UTC

  London conference on Pacific Alliance; UK granted observer status

  

  Over 150 representatives of British companies and businesses attended the conference on the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico) organized by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Financial Times. The Alliance is considered one of the newest and most promising political and economic blocks is emerging from Latin America.

• Thursday, December 12th 2013 - 06:33 UTC

  Latam forecasted to expand 3.2% in 2014 after a 2.6% this year, says Eclac

  

  The economies of Latin America and the Caribbean will expand by 3.2% in 2014, which is higher than the 2.6% for 2013, according to the latest report from the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, launched on Wednesday in Santiago, Chile.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 23:17 UTC

  Argentina will unveil new inflation and GDP stats in February and March

  

  Argentina will unveil its new consumer price index (CPI) in February and a revised GDP index in March, Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich announced. The dates effectively comply with the demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that had extended a deadline for Argentina to improve the quality of its economic data.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 22:56 UTC

  The humble Pope Francis named “Person of the Year” by Time magazine

  

  Time magazine named Pope Francis as its Person of the Year on Wednesday, crediting him with shifting the message of the Catholic Church while capturing the “imaginations of millions” who had become disillusioned with the Vatican.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 22:53 UTC

  First obstacle for Uruguay's marijuana bill: it violates international convention on drug control

  

  Uruguay's decision to legalize marijuana is in violation of an international convention on drug control, the Vienna-based International Narcotics Control Board, INCB, which monitors government compliance with such treaties said on Wednesday.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 22:45 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez completes all medical exams and prepares for her first flight in almost three months

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez underwent this week several medical exams which have revealed “normal results”, announced presidential spokesman Alfredo Scoccimarro at a press conference in Government House in Buenos Aires.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 06:23 UTC

  Paraguayan Senate accepts Venezuela as full member of Mercosur; praise from Brazil

  

  The Paraguayan Senate finally passed on Tuesday afternoon, with a large majority a protocol for including Venezuela as full member of Mercosur. The protocol, which was submitted to Congress by President Horacio Cartes, was supported 29-10.

• Wednesday, December 11th 2013 - 04:31 UTC

  Uruguay becomes first country to oversee production and sale of marijuana

  

  Uruguay's Senate has approved ground-breaking legislation legalizing marijuana, becoming the first nation in the world to oversee the production and sale of the drug. After a marathon debate, the 16 senators from the ruling coalition out of 29 lawmakers voted Tuesday in favor of the legislation championed by President Jose Mujica, who must now sign it into law.