Politics

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 07:08 UTC

  British Parliament clean up bill has received Royal Assent

  

  A bill aimed at cleaning up Parliament after the MPs' expenses scandal has become law after getting Royal Assent. Just weeks after the Parliamentary Standards Bill was introduced, it is now on the statute book after a series of concessions by the government.

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 07:06 UTC

  Venezuela reacts angrily to US report on cocaine smuggling and corruption

  

  Venezuela said United States must stop publishing “interventionist” reports criticizing the country’s drug interdiction practices in order for relations to improve. A report released Monday by the US Government Accountability Office, GAO, amounts to “political blackmail” warned the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs ministry in an e-mailed statement

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 06:58 UTC

  Panama praises “professionalism” of Honduras Army in the crisis

  

  Panamanian Vice-president and Foreign Affairs minister Juan Carlos Varela praised the Honduran Army for its “professionalism” in dealing with the political crisis of the country in spite of repeated claims of repression from human rights organizations.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 22:44 UTC

  Brazilian Senate supports Venezuela in Mercosur, but watchful of Chavez

  

  “Respect for democracy is a very important principle for those who are or want to become members of Mercosur”, said Eduardo Azeredo president of the Brazilian Senate Foreign Affairs and Defence committee.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 22:42 UTC

  UK government borrowing soars and is equivalent to 56% of GDP

  

  The United Kingdom government borrowing swelled by £13 billion in June to take overall net debt to its highest proportion of UK output since records began, official figures showed.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 22:40 UTC

  First Spanish minister visit to Gibraltar in 300 years

  

  Spain's foreign minister arrived Tuesday in Gibraltar for talks with his United Kingdom counterpart - the first visit by a Spanish minister for 300 years. Miguel Angel Moratinos and David Miliband will seek greater maritime, financial and judicial co-operation.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 22:36 UTC

  Top Israeli official Latinamerican tour: trade and “Iran influence” in the agenda

  

  Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman left on Monday on a ten day trip to Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Argentina to increase trade and strengthen ties with several countries as well as stemming growing Iranian influence in the region, said Deputy minister Danny Avalon.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 12:19 UTC

  Uruguayan ruling coalition loosing ground to the opposition

  

  The Uruguayan ruling coalition Broad Front seems to be loosing steam while the main opposition party grows steadily ahead of the coming October 25th general election, according to the latest public opinion poll released on Sunday.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 12:01 UTC

  IMF implements plan to inject 250 billion SDR in liquidity boost

  

  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is planning to inject 250 billion US dollars in Special Drawing Righst, SDR, into the global economy to bolster countries’ reserves as part of measures to combat the world economic crisis.

• Tuesday, July 21st 2009 - 11:23 UTC

  Mercosur stalled development and Honduras in Friday’s summit agenda

  

  Bureaucratic problems stalling the development of Mercosur is the main issue to be addressed at the presidential summit of the trade block next Friday in Asuncion, Paraguay, according to regional press reports.