Politics

• Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 20:27 UTC

  UK and Norway reaffirm commitment to polar and Southern Ocean cooperation

  

  The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, and Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre underlined on Wednesday their commitment to enhance UK/Norwegian cooperation in the Polar Regions.

• Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 06:06 UTC

  IDB calls for democratizing access to internet broadband in Unasur members

  

  Members of the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, need to improve cooperation and stimulate private investment to increase access to broadband services, a move that will lead to a reduction in costs and greater usage, according to two studies by the Inter-American Development Bank released at a meeting of UNASUR communication ministers.

• Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 06:03 UTC

  Improved transparency for IDB loan operations and activities

  

  The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) became a signatory of the International Aid Transparency Initiative, a voluntary, multi-stakeholder effort to make information about aid spending easier to find, use and compare.

• Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 00:27 UTC

  Spanish Conservative press predicts the demise of the Gibraltar Tripartite Forum

  

  Spain’s Conservative daily ABC diplomatic correspondent is predicting the demise of the Tripartite Forum, involving Spain, UK and Gibraltar, under Mariano Rajoy PP government expected to take office in mid December

• Wednesday, November 30th 2011 - 00:19 UTC

  UK without a fully operational aircraft carrier until 2030, says spending watchdog

  

  Britain may be without a fully operational aircraft carrier until 2030, according to a report published by the Commons spending watchdog. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says two carriers being built will cost more, offer less military capability and be ready much later than planned.

• Tuesday, November 29th 2011 - 23:05 UTC

  Poverty in Latam at lowest level in 20 years; but 174 million are still below the line

  

  Poverty and indigence in Latin America and the Caribbean are at their lowest in twenty years according to the latest report from the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, ECLAC, released on Tuesday in Chile.

• Tuesday, November 29th 2011 - 17:21 UTC

  UNASUR considers strengthening emergency fund for balance of payments problems

  

  The Union of South American Nations, Unasur, may decide this week to strengthen an emergency fund to help countries in balance of payments problems, the Brazilian Finance Ministry’s international affairs secretary said.

• Tuesday, November 29th 2011 - 15:59 UTC

  Russian ambassador thanks RAF S&R chopper team including Prince William

  

  The Russian Ambassador has thanked the crew of the RAF Search and Rescue Flight, which included Prince William, for their attempts to rescue the crew of a sinking Russian cargo vessel this weekend.

• Tuesday, November 29th 2011 - 15:42 UTC

  Ice Patrol HMS Protector steaming for its deployment to Antarctica

  

  The Royal Navy's new ice patrol ship, HMS Protector left Portsmouth Monday for a seven-month deployment surveying and patrolling the frozen continent of Antarctica. The 5.000-tons ice-breaking ship completed an intensive period of sea trials and training prior to deploying to the Antarctic Peninsula.

• Tuesday, November 29th 2011 - 15:34 UTC

  UK opens new consulate in Recife, next to northeast Brazil main trade and sea hub

  

  Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne on Tuesday opened a new Consulate General in Recife, Brazil - the city which became home to one of the first ever British missions in South America in 1808.