Politics

• Friday, August 7th 2009 - 12:38 UTC

  US forces in Colombia controversy: Uribe’s tour considered “positive”

  

  Colombian president Alvaro Uribe three day visit to seven South American countries to explain to his peers the extent of the military understanding with Washington, which includes deployment of US forces in seven Colombian bases, concluded with descriptions of “positive”, “cordial” and “very important”.

• Friday, August 7th 2009 - 12:02 UTC

  Falklands: Cruise numbers to slump as major operator pulls the plug

  

  Retailers in Stanley are being urged to work smarter for the tourist dollar as future domestic cruise seasons face potentially devastating losses.

• Friday, August 7th 2009 - 11:49 UTC

  Following months of dispute Kirchner easing its grip on agriculture markets

  

  Officials from the administration of Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner have announced a set of measures toward the liberalization of meat and grains exports -following demands made by farming organizations- in a move to resolve the ongoing conflict with farming leaders.

• Friday, August 7th 2009 - 11:45 UTC

  Senate confirms first Hispanic woman to serve on the US Supreme Court

  

  The United States Senate confirmed Sonia Sotomayor as the third woman and first Hispanic to serve on the US Supreme Court, a major victory for President Barack Obama. The Thursday vote by a margin of 68 to 31 was hailed as “a wonderful day for America” by President Barack Obama.

• Friday, August 7th 2009 - 07:05 UTC

  Chavez claims US forces in Colombia are a step toward war

  

  US plans to deploy extra forces at seven Colombian bases could be a step toward war in South America claimed Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez who called on US President Barack Obama not to increase US presence in Colombia.

• Friday, August 7th 2009 - 03:36 UTC

  Great Train Robber Biggs released on “compassionate grounds”

  

  Britain’s Great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs was granted on Thursday release from his prison sentence on compassionate grounds. Justice Secretary Jack Straw said the decision was based on medical evidence that Biggs's condition had deteriorated and he was not expected to recover.

• Friday, August 7th 2009 - 03:19 UTC

  Thousands at the funeral procession of the last WW I British veteran

  

  Thousands of people have lined the streets to watch the funeral procession of the last British veteran of the First World War trenches. Harry Patch, 111, the Last Tommy, who did not want a state funeral, was honoured at a service at Wells Cathedral, Somerset.

• Thursday, August 6th 2009 - 23:19 UTC

  Ten years of Plan Colombia and the next ten years

  

  Colombia is likely to become the regional hub for the Pentagon’s Latin American activities and its Fort Apache as US and Colombia near a cooperation agreement that would expand US military presence in the country.

• Thursday, August 6th 2009 - 16:53 UTC

  Chile respects Colombia’s “sovereign” decision on military relations with US

  

  Chile respects Colombia's “sovereign” decision to allow the US to use Colombian military bases for counter-narcotics operations in the region, the country's foreign Minister said Wednesday.

• Thursday, August 6th 2009 - 16:50 UTC

  Opinion poll confirms November run off for Uruguay’s presidential election

  

  Uruguay’s ruling coalition has a ten point lead for October’s presidential election with 44% of the vote followed by the main opposition National party with 34%. However if the tendency is confirmed, a run off is inevitable in November according to Equipo Mori pollsters.