Politics

• Thursday, November 26th 2009 - 07:53 UTC

  Spain promises tangible results from EU/Mercosur trade talks

  

  Spain wants to boost trade negotiations between the European Union and Mercosur when it takes over the pro tempore presidency of the block next January, according to Spanish diplomats quoted by Madrid’s main daily El Pais.

• Thursday, November 26th 2009 - 07:51 UTC

  Argentina contracts icebreaker for Antarctic 2009/2010 campaign

  

  Argentina’s Ministry of Defence announced the contract of an icebreaker and a helicopter for the coming 2009/2010 Antarctic campaign. The news was published in the government’s official bulletin and involves almost 8 million US dollars.

• Thursday, November 26th 2009 - 05:31 UTC

  First Argentine marine commander to land in Falklands in April 1982 arrested

  

  Three Argentine retired naval officers including Rear Admiral Carlos Busser who in April 1982 commanded the first group of Argentines marines to land in the Falkland Islands, have been arrested for alleged human rights abuses during the last military government.

• Wednesday, November 25th 2009 - 15:02 UTC

  Distinguished academic next Argentine ambassador in London

  

  A distinguished solicitor who has dedicated his life to social and political sciences and promoting culture, Jose Nun is tipped as the next Argentine ambassador in Britain.

• Wednesday, November 25th 2009 - 13:24 UTC

  Paraguayan president allegedly also has a 22-year old daughter, claims relative

  

  Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo, a former Catholic bishop that is facing at least two paternity demands was again involved in a similar controversy when his niece claimed his uncle had a non recognized 22 year old daughter who married over the weekend.

• Wednesday, November 25th 2009 - 10:07 UTC

  Venezuela’s Chavez steps up program to confiscate “idle land”

  

  Venezuela’s Landholdings Institute and the National Guard occupied in the last few days at least 31 farms in different states including one belonging to opposition leader Manuel Rosales, currently exiled in Peru.

• Wednesday, November 25th 2009 - 10:01 UTC

  Brazil to scrutinize Argentine imports licences system

  

  Mercosur senior partners are again clashing over trade. Brazilian government announced that it will run an exhaustive study of all the non-automatic import licenses that President Lula da Silva’s administration believes cause nothing but Argentine restrictions on Brazilian products.

• Wednesday, November 25th 2009 - 09:58 UTC

  Moratinos downplays incidents in Gibraltar waters with the Guardia Civil

  

  Spanish foreign affairs minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos said the Guardia Civil continued to cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the sea around Gibraltar, despite Spain not recognising British sovereignty of those waters.

• Wednesday, November 25th 2009 - 05:41 UTC

  Peru proposes a South American “peace force” to contain regional conflicts

  

  Peru will propose the creation of a South American “Peace Force” next Friday in Ecuador when the meeting of the Union of South American Nations Defence Council, announced Peruvian Production minister Mercedes Araoz following a meeting in Montevideo with Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez.

• Wednesday, November 25th 2009 - 04:42 UTC

  Colombia/Ecuador re-establish trade relations after 21 months

  

  Ecuador and Colombia formally established this week ties at trade representation level, official sources said in Quito and Bogotá. The two governments announced that “full normalization” will take place when the so called “sensitive” issues have been addressed and solved.