Politics

• Wednesday, May 19th 2010 - 05:47 UTC

  Lula da Silva reveals political admiration for Spain and praises the Kirchners

  

  Brazil President Lula da Silva in what seemed very much as a farewell ceremony, paid tribute to the excellent relations with Spain and special links with Argentina on being honoured with a prize that underlines economic development and social cohesion.

• Wednesday, May 19th 2010 - 05:41 UTC

  Central America and EU reach a free trade agreement

  

  Central American countries and the European Union (EU) reached on Tuesday an agreement on the first ever free trade deal between the two regions, they announced in a joint statement.

• Wednesday, May 19th 2010 - 02:52 UTC

  EU/Latam summit results “not sufficient”; new “faster pace” needed

  

  Chilean president Sebastián Piñera said that the results of the VI European Union/Latam-Caribbean leaders’ summit in Madrid which closed Tuesday was “insufficient” since adequate solutions for present-day problems faced by the regions were lacking.

• Wednesday, May 19th 2010 - 01:02 UTC

  Terrorism turns some countries into ‘useful idiots’, claims Colombia’s Uribe

  

  Terrorism knows how to convert some countries into useful idiots said Colombian president during an interview with Spanish media in the framework of the EU-Latam-Caribbean leaders’ summit in Madrid.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 22:02 UTC

  Britain’s stance on the Falklands a “mistake”; UN resolutions must be complied

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said that Britain’s stance of declaring sovereignty over the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty “non-negotiable” is a “mistake” dictated by “unilateral practices” that have created insecurity in the world.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 21:58 UTC

  Spanish maritime guidelines acknowledge British Gibraltar territorial waters

  

  Spain’s Popular Party opposition has complained after a Spanish ministry issued guidelines to maritime rescue services that appear to acknowledge British Gibraltar territorial waters.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 18:14 UTC

  Peruvian president criticizes spiralling military expenditure in South America

  

  Peruvian president Alan Garcia criticized spiralling military expenditure in South America, a fact he linked to the recently created Union of South American Nations, Unasur.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 18:01 UTC

  EU agrees on tougher regulation for hedge funds, in spite of UK objections

  

  European Union finance ministers have agreed to introduce tougher regulation of the hedge fund industry. Ministers overrode objections by the new UK government and the City of London, where 80% of European funds are based.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 18:00 UTC

  Chile and Peru leaders move to improve “rocky” bilateral relations

  

  Chilean President Sebastian Piñera and Peruvian President Alan Garcia Perez met Sunday in the lead up to the European Union, Latin American, and Caribbean Summit in Madrid. The meeting represented a big step forward in improving the current rocky relations between Chile and Peru.

• Tuesday, May 18th 2010 - 15:39 UTC

  HMS Scott back in Davenport after six months tour in Antarctica

  

  The Royal Navy survey ship HMS Scott returned to Devonport this week after six months on deployment in the southern hemisphere. The deep-water survey ship deployed on 26 October 2009 replaced stricken HMS Endurance in Ice patrol duties.