Politics

• Tuesday, April 7th 2009 - 12:49 UTC

  Venezuelan and Japan leaders agree to deepen ties

  

  Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez agreed Monday to deepen ties in energy, investment and trade, with Japanese companies ready to participate in gas and crude production in the Latin American country.

• Tuesday, April 7th 2009 - 11:58 UTC

  First face-to-face talks of Raul Castro with US Congress members

  

  Cuban president Raul Castro has held talks with members of Congress in his first face-to-face meeting with US politicians since he became president last year. State television showed Mr Castro talking to members of the delegation, which is in Havana to explore ways of improving US-Cuban relations.

• Tuesday, April 7th 2009 - 11:34 UTC

  Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Ecuador sign defence accord

  

  Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia and Ecuador signed Monday in Asuncion an agreement for cooperation in security matters which not only involves “associating” for the procurement of equipment, but defence of sovereignty and territorial integrity and preannouncement of military exercises.

• Tuesday, April 7th 2009 - 09:31 UTC

  Alfonsin magic touch could help resurgence of Argentine opposition

  

  A majority of Argentine feels that the recent death of former president Raul Alfonsin which sparked such spontaneous support for the values enshrined by the “father of democracy” could contribute to the resurgence of the country’s main opposition party to which he belonged, according to the latest public opinion poll published in the Buenos Aires press.

• Tuesday, April 7th 2009 - 06:58 UTC

  Controversial expenses anticipate “big changes” for British MPs

  

  British Members of Parliament have been warned they face “big changes” in their system of pay and expenses as Housing Minister Margaret Beckett became the latest member of the Government to become embroiled in controversy.

• Tuesday, April 7th 2009 - 05:20 UTC

  “US is not at war with Islam” Obama tells Turkish parliament

  

  During his first visit to a Muslim nation United States president Barack Obama said the US ”is not and will never be at war with Islam''. In an address to the Turkish parliament in Ankara on Monday, he called for a greater partnership with the Muslim world.

• Monday, April 6th 2009 - 10:14 UTC

  Latam airlines consider airport security costs and standards

  

  Latinamerican countries must standardize security norms in airports but without this meaning an obstacle for staff and passengers, said IATA (International Air Transport Association) regional vice-president Patricio Sepulveda during the Latinamerican Civil Aviation Conference, CLAC, and currently held in Chile.

• Monday, April 6th 2009 - 08:52 UTC

  Russia and Chile committed to boost trade and defence cooperation

  

  Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and visiting Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet said during a meeting at the Kremlin that they were committed to bolster their countries bilateral ties in different areas, including trade and defence cooperation. Both leaders signed a joint declaration and two cooperation accords in culture and defence.

• Sunday, April 5th 2009 - 06:26 UTC

  Colombia demobilization plan working: 773 guerrillas in three months

  

  Colombian guerrillas are turning in by the hundreds according to the latest report from the government. In March 237 guerrillas demobilized and turned in their weapons taking the total for the first quarter of the year to 773.

• Saturday, April 4th 2009 - 11:06 UTC

  Lula da Silva proud to lend money to the IMF

  

  President Lula da Silva said he wants to be the first Brazilian leader whose administration will lend money to the International Monetary Fund. His comments were done following the G20 summit when it was agreed to supply the IMF with additional funding to the tune of 750 billion US dollars.