Politics

• Thursday, September 17th 2009 - 13:10 UTC

  Jobless number climbs to 2.47 million in Britain, highest since 1997

  

  British unions and employers have reacted with alarm after unemployment surged to a 14-year high prompting fresh calls for Government help for the growing army of jobless. The total now stands at 2.47 million following a 210,000 rise in the three months to July.

• Thursday, September 17th 2009 - 04:31 UTC

  Spanish apology to Argentina for “protocol error” involving Falklands’ delegation

  

  Argentina formally accepted Wednesday apologies from the Spanish government which admitted having committed a “protocol error” on allowing the presence of a delegation from the Falkland Islands in an international fisheries sustainability conference, reports Efe, the Spanish government news agency quoting the head of Argentina’s Fisheries Department Norberto Yauhar.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 21:58 UTC

  Argentina protests Falklands participation in fishing summit

  

  FALKLANDS delegates at an important fisheries conference in Spain were infuriated this morning by an Argentine protest against their participation. The First World Summit on Fishing Sustainability is taking place in Baiona, Pontevedra.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 12:36 UTC

  Uruguay and US express concern over possible arms race in South America

  

  Uruguay and the United States expressed concern Tuesday that recent weapons purchases could lead to an arms race in South America. In a joint appearance, Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton also pledged co-operation on trade, scientific research and other fields.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 12:30 UTC

  Unasur could not reach consensus on regional military affairs

  

  The Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, ministerial meeting in Ecuador ended Tuesday with no consensus on regional military issues reported Colombia’s Foreign Affairs minister Jaime Bermúdez.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 12:15 UTC

  US Senator introduced bill to extend trade benefits to Uruguay

  

  United States Senator Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a bill Tuesday to extend US trade benefits to Uruguay. The move he says would increase pressure on Brazil to deepen commercial ties.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 08:43 UTC

  Extension of US trade embargo on Cuba, “disappoints” Brazil and Latinamerica

  

  President Barack Obama decision to extend for another twelve months the 47-year-long US trade embargo on Cuba has “disappointed” Brazil and Latinamerica” said President Lula da Silva’s main foreign policy advisors.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 08:29 UTC

  Lula da Silva supports unrestricted political campaigning in internet

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva came out strongly in support of Internet for political campaigning when the Senate is ready to vote a bill which establishes serious restrictions to such a communications tool.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 08:19 UTC

  Chavez regime holds at least 40 political prisoners claim human rights groups

  

  Venezuelan human rights organizations estimate the regime of President Hugo Chavez is holding at least 40 political prisoners and over 2.000 people have been sentenced for participating in rallies organized by the opposition to protest “Bolivarian revolution” legislation and initiatives.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2009 - 08:15 UTC

  Lula da Silva tells BBC: “rich countries to blame for the financial crisis”

  

  Brazilian President Lula da Silva has heavily criticised the “rich countries”, the G8 and other international bodies over the global economic crisis.