Politics

• Tuesday, August 18th 2009 - 00:40 UTC

  Falklands Patrol Vessel Ready For Action

  

  FALKLANDS Fishery Patrol Vessel Protegat is ready for action since a refit that not only brings the vessel up to UK Maritime Coastguard standards but enhances her fishery protection and research capabilities.On August 16, Protegat returned from Montevideo, Uruguay following a two month re-fit.

• Monday, August 17th 2009 - 12:28 UTC

  Congress scandal has not influenced Lula da Silva’s record approval rating

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva has an approval rating of 67% and his image has not been tarnished by the corruption scandals involving his powerful ally Senator Jose Sarney, according to the latest public opinion from Datafolha, published Sunday by Folha de Sao Paulo.

• Monday, August 17th 2009 - 12:16 UTC

  Mexican president proposes free trade agreement with Brazil

  

  Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has said he will propose a free trade agreement with Brazil. “Trade enriches economies,” said Mr Calderon during a meeting with business leaders in Sao Paulo.

• Monday, August 17th 2009 - 10:35 UTC

  Released documents reveal Brazil’s crucial role in 1973 Chilean coup

  

  Former Brazilian dictator Emilio Garrastazú Médici and ex US president Richard Nixon agreed on the need to oust Chilean peer Salvador Allende and Cuba’s Fidel Castro during a meeting at the White house in 1971, when then advisor Henry Kissinger wrote the minutes, according to declassified documents published Sunday.

• Monday, August 17th 2009 - 09:20 UTC

  British Virgin Islands and Cayman join “white list” of tax standards

  

  The British Virgin Islands and the Cayman islands have joined the global “white list” of countries using internationally recognised tax standards, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said last Friday.

• Monday, August 17th 2009 - 08:34 UTC

  Afghan death toll mounts and UK government suggests possible scaling down

  

  Britain’s Defence secretary Bob Ainsworth has suggested that the UK's role in Afghanistan could be scaled down over the next 12 months, as the death toll passed the 200 mark. Ainsworth said that reaching the sad milestone, after the 204th soldier was killed, was “grim”.

• Monday, August 17th 2009 - 08:05 UTC

  UK to intervene in support of Gibraltar in waters-dispute with Spain

  

  The British Government has confirmed that it has formally requested leave to join Gibraltar’s action in the European Court of Justice, Luxembourg regarding Madrid’s designation of Gibraltar British Territorial Waters as under Spain.

• Monday, August 17th 2009 - 07:30 UTC

  Miliband “legitimate terrorism” comment triggers controversy

  

  British opposition Tories have criticised Foreign Secretary David Miliband for comments that they say could be seen to “legitimise terrorism”. Mr Miliband told the BBC violent action or terrorism may be justifiable in some cases, in a tribute to Joe Slovo, a South African anti-apartheid activist.

• Monday, August 17th 2009 - 07:24 UTC

  Easter Islanders want to limit resident population

  

  The airport of Easter Island was again occupied by protesting locals forcing to cancel flights and causing considerable delay in the rest of the traffic. This is not the first time locals take over the Mataveri terminal in Rapa Nui and for the same reason: to protest the growing number of people who are arriving to become permanent residents.

• Saturday, August 15th 2009 - 13:12 UTC

  US Navy huge multi-purpose vessel calls in Punta Arenas

  

  USS Makin Island one of the latest built and largest US Navy multi-purpose amphibious assault ship called in Punta Arenas, in the extreme south of Chile after having sailed through the Magellan Strait.