Politics

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 06:28 UTC

  Argentina unable to lift Chinese ban on soy-oil imports in first round of talks

  

  The Argentine trade mission sent to Beijing was unable to lift the ban on soy-oil imports imposed by China on Argentina. The Argentine delegation returned with the promise that further talks will be taking place but no dates were revealed.

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 06:26 UTC

  Evo Morales hopeful of restabilising full relations with Washington

  

  Bolivian president Evo Morales said he was hopeful an agreement could be reached for the full reestablishment of diplomatic, trade and investment relations with Washington.

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 06:21 UTC

  Oliver Stone and film “South of the Border” greeted by thousands of Bolivians

  

  Noted US political firebrand and film director Oliver Stone attended the Bolivian premiere of his documentary “South of the Border” Tuesday night at El Coliseo La Coronilla, an enormous indoor sports stadium in Cochabamba.

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 06:16 UTC

  Spanish unemployment slightly down at start of summer season

  

  Spanish registered unemployment declined for a second month in May as the start of the tourist season spurred hiring. The number of people registering for unemployment benefits fell by 76,223, or 1.84%, from April to 4.07 million, the Labor Ministry said Wednesday.

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 06:13 UTC

  Cuban political prisoners’ families hopeful of further positive signs

  

  The families of Cuban political prisoners expressed their hope Wednesday that those who are sick may be released. On Tuesday, Cuban authorities began the first transfers of political prisoners to jails near their homes, Catholic Church officials and the opposition said.

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 06:05 UTC

  Colombia’s Santos sends ‘peace and respect message” to Chavez

  

  Colombian presidential candidate and favourite to win this month’s run-off Juan Manuel Santos anticipated he would be proposing Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez a “rebuilding of bilateral links”, if he is finally elected.

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 05:55 UTC

  Euro zone unemployment reaches all-time high in April, 10.1%

  

  The Euro zone (EZ16) seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 10.1% in April 2010, compared with 10.0% in March. It was 9.2% in April 2009. The EU 27 unemployment rate was 9.7% in April 2010, unchanged compared with March while a year ago it stood at 8.7% (April 2009).

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 05:52 UTC

  Mrs Kirchner defends ‘imports’ restrictions’; blames the media for the coverage

  

  President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner once again rejected that Argentina has adopted restrictions on imports, although she admitted “there isn't a country in the world that, through fiscal promotions or tariffs, doesn't have those mechanisms” of barriers for the entry of foreign products.

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 05:47 UTC

  Canada, first G7 member to raise basic interest rate

  

  Canada has become the first member of the G7 group of industrialised nations to raise interest rates since the global financial crisis. The Bank of Canada has increased its key lending rate by one quarter of a percentage point to 0.5%.

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 02:09 UTC

  Kirchner makes his international debut as Unasur chair in Paraguay

  

  Former Argentine president Néstor Kirchner met Wednesday with Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo and other Congressional and political leaders in Asunción in what became his first official meeting as head of the South American Nations Union (UNASUR).