Politics

• Friday, April 19th 2013 - 02:38 UTC

  France conditions EU/US trade talks to the exclusion of cultural items

  

  France said it would block proposed negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States unless cultural sectors, such as television and radio, were excluded from the talks.

• Friday, April 19th 2013 - 02:35 UTC

  Italy’s political stalemate extends to the election of a new president

  

  Italy's parliament failed to elect a new state president in the first two votes on Thursday with a centre-left rebellion against leader Pier Luigi Bersani torpedoing his official candidate and prolonging a political stalemate.

• Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 22:11 UTC

  Falklands’ referendum and self-determination receive support from US Congress

  

  United States Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart released a statement after introducing a House Resolution recognizing the Falkland Islands referendum which was held March 10/11 with an overwhelming turnout and result.

• Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 21:39 UTC

  “Democracy in Paraguay is here to stay: Mercosur and Unasur have become irrelevant”

  

  “We’re optimistic about Sunday’s election and the future of Paraguay if we can agree on long term state policies, but something is for certain: democracy in Paraguay is here to stay” said Ricardo Caballero Aquino, Chargé d’affaires of the Paraguayan embassy in Montevideo who was also positive about future relations with Unasur and Mercosur.

• Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 10:19 UTC

  Urgent meeting of Unasur in Lima to express support for Venezuela’s Maduro

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernández will travel to Lima for a UNASUR meeting on Thursday in which regional countries are expected to express their support for the elections results in Venezuela and President elect Nicolas Maduro.

• Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 05:39 UTC

  Paraguay elects president on Sunday but return to Unasur still distant

  

  Paraguay will be electing a new president on Sunday and its re-incorporation to the Union of South American Nations, Unasur could happen under the new government anticipated Salomon Lerner, chief observer of the regional group.

• Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 05:30 UTC

  Cartes and Alegre with best chances of becoming Paraguayan president on Sunday

  

  On Thursday evening all of Paraguayan presidential candidates will be holding their final rallies after which begins a 48-hour ban of all electoral activities ahead of Sunday’s general election. Two candidates outstand in the dispute, Horacio Cartes from the Colorado party and Efrain Alegre from the ruling coalition headed by the Liberals.

• Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 02:07 UTC

  Thousands turn out to pay their last respects to Baroness Thatcher in London

  

  Queen Elizabeth led mourners on Wednesday in St Paul's Cathedral at the funeral of Baroness Thatcher Britain's longest serving prime minister of modern times. More than 2,000 guests from around the world paid their last respects at the biggest such occasion since the Queen Mother's funeral in 2002.

• Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 01:50 UTC

  Falklands’ service to “the most theologically-minded Prime Minister’ of the XXth century”

  

  In the Falkland Islands Wednesday memorial and thanksgiving service to Baroness Thatcher, Reverend Dr Richard Hines led the congregation through the messages of the hymns and Bible readings she personally chose for the day of her funeral.

• Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 00:30 UTC

  Falkland Islands in moving tribute to Baroness Thatcher, “a great friend of the Islands”

  

  A memorial and thanksgiving service to Baroness Thatcher was held in the Falkland Islands Wednesday afternoon at the local church a few hours after the main ceremony in London’s St Paul cathedral.