Politics

Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 08:28 UTC
Brazil tells Hillary of dissatisfaction with Arias mediation in Honduras crisis

Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Celso Amorim phoned last weekend US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was in New Delhi, India, to “express concern” about the slow pace and handling of the negotiations for the reinstatement of the democratic order in Honduras, reports Folha do Sao Paulo.
Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 08:25 UTC
Nicaraguan opposition condemns President Ortega’s re-election appeal

Nicaraguan opposition members in Congress condemned this week a public appeal for constitutional changes by President Daniel Ortega as an attempt to extend term limits and eventually allow the populist leader's re-election.
Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 07:18 UTC
Uruguay rejects proposal to grant Mercosur more powers

Uruguay will reject a Brazilian proposal to create a Mercosur High Court of Justice and grant more powers to the regional parliament when the Mercosur summit meets next Thursday and Friday in Paraguay. Uruguay also anticipated it would make a strong claim regarding the trade barriers imposed by Mercosur senior members, Argentina and Brazil.
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.