Politics

• Wednesday, February 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Guess who's “Botox Queen” and the “Pampas magpie”?

  

  Even when Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's two day visit to Spain can be rated better than expected, the media had a completely different opinion of whom they labelled “botox queen” and the “Pampas magpie”.

• Wednesday, February 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Spanish companies confirm investments in Argentina

  

  Two of Spain's strongest corporations reaffirmed their decision to re-invest heavily in Argentina in spite of the “difficult and complicated” situation created by the re-nationalization of Argentina's air flag carrier with no compensation for its Spanish owners.

• Wednesday, February 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina, Marsans, Airbus reach Aerolineas pre-accord

  

  The Argentine government and the Spanish tourism group Marsans have reached a tentative “pre-accord” regarding the re-nationalization of the country's air flag carrier Aerolineas without compensation, according to Wednesday press reports from Madrid.

• Wednesday, February 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Lula da Silva has two visits planned to Russia in 2009

  

  Brazilian President Lula da Silva will be visiting Russia twice this year, a senior Russian Foreign Ministry official said on Wednesday in Moscow.

• Wednesday, February 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  First Chilean president visit to Cuba in four decades

  

  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet began Wednesday a three day official visit to Cuba, the first such visit by a Chilean leader in almost four decades.

• Tuesday, February 10th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Presidential hopefuls' inflation in Uruguay's ruling coalition

  

  The Uruguayan ruling coalition Broad Front made the official launching Monday of the third presidential hopeful for June primaries: Marcos Carambula who is mayor of the second most important electoral circumscription after Montevideo.

• Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Foreign Office under financial strain by weak sterling

  

  The collapse in the value of the British pound will put the Foreign Office (FCO) under “serious financial pressures” in the coming year, a parliamentary report warned.

• Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Bilateral trade talks between EU and each Andean country

  

  Delegates from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru begin Monday in Bogotá the first round of negotiations to reach a trade agreement with the European Union which should be completed by mid year.

• Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Aerolineas takeover shadows Cristina K visit to Spain

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner began on Monday her first official visit to Spain amid expectations that she would try to reduce tension over the expropriation of the airline Aerolineas Argentinas from the Spanish tourism group Marsans.

• Monday, February 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  WTO debate to assess protectionism and trade barriers

  World Trade Organisation (WTO) members met on Monday to assess how far the financial crisis has encouraged protectionism. Diplomats representing rich and poor countries discussed WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy's January report showing countries had ignored the Group of 20 nations' plea in November against raising trade barriers.