Politics

• Monday, May 25th 2009 - 17:41 UTC

  Celibacy is an “imperfect issue” says Paraguayan president

  

  Paraguayan president and former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo described celibacy as an “imperfect issue” and said the paternity scandal in which he has been involved has not subtracted popular support, rather the contrary.

• Monday, May 25th 2009 - 17:39 UTC

  Latinamerica’s bicentennial independence festivities begin in Bolivia

  

  Bolivia’s commemoration on Monday May 25th of the 200th anniversary of the first uprising in Latinamerica against the Spanish colonial empire will also mark the beginning of similar independence celebrations along the continent which will peak in 2010.

• Monday, May 25th 2009 - 17:34 UTC

  Ecuador’s Correa promises radical measures to implement “citizens’ revolution”

  

  Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, flanked by his Venezuelan and Bolivian counterparts, Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales, on Sunday commemorated the 187th anniversary of the Battle Pichincha, whereby Ecuador assured its independence, and said that he will take even more radical measures to implement his “citizen’s revolution.” Correa also reiterated his commitment to Latinamerican integration.

• Sunday, May 24th 2009 - 06:27 UTC

  Latinamerica divided on procedure to lift OAS ban on Cuba

  

  Political divergences impeded the Organization of American States, (OAS) Permanent Council from officially debating for the first time since 1962, the possible re-entry of Cuba to the inter-American system.

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 15:29 UTC

  Cash short Venezuela negotiating loans from Brazil

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, whose administration is facing cash shortages as oil revenues plunge, is negotiating loans from Brazil's development bank to fund infrastructure projects, revealed the Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 15:15 UTC

  Angry UK reaction to Spanish navy incident in Gibraltar waters

  

  Britain has told Spain that the recent incursion by a Spanish Navy vessel was an “unacceptable” violation of British sovereignty over Gibraltar waters. The complaint comes after a Spanish Navy fisheries protection vessel carried out checks on Spanish fishermen just off Gibraltar.

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 15:05 UTC

  Obama administration invites Cuba to resume migration talks

  

  The United States Department said on Friday it had offered to resume talks with Cuba about Cuban migration to the United States, a fresh sign of US President Barack Obama’s effort to comply, even partially, with the virtually unanimous request from Latinamerica to improve relations with the Castro regime.

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 15:02 UTC

  Expenses disclosure has turned Commons “unbearable” complains MP

  

  Tory leader David Cameron has criticised a Tory backbencher who claimed that MPs were victims of a “McCarthy-style witch-hunt” over their expenses claims. Nadine Dorries, who had warned there were fears that an MP could commit suicide, claimed the situation at Westminster had become “completely unbearable”.

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 14:59 UTC

  Third re-election running “inappropriate” admits Colombia’s Uribe

  

  Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe says it would be “inappropriate” for him to seek a third consecutive term. His statement comes two days after the Senate approved a referendum that would ask voters to permit him to run again. Uribe did not, however, clearly rule out a re-election bid.

• Saturday, May 23rd 2009 - 14:51 UTC

  Bolivia and US agree to improve bilateral ties

  

  Bolivian President Evo Morales has called for a complete overhaul of his country's strained ties with the US. He urged “mutual respect” between the two nations, saying Washington should not interfere in Bolivia's affairs.