Politics

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 09:25 UTC

  Royal Navy commissions first Type-45 air defence destroyer

  

  The Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced warship HMS Daring was formally commissioned into the fleet in front of the ship's sponsor. The Countess of Wessex, who launched the Type 45 destroyer in Scotland in 2006, was principal guest at the colourful 'Christening' ceremony at Victory Jetty, Portsmouth Naval Base, Thursday 23 July 09.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 07:17 UTC

  Falklands’ combat tested Harrier celebrates 40th birthday

  

  The British designed and manufactured vertical take off Harrier which saw its first combat operations during the Falkland Islands campaign in 1982 this week, Thursday 23 July celebrated its fortieth birthday.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 07:13 UTC

  Tories smash Labour in Norwich North by election

  

  Britain’s Conservative leader David Cameron hailed his party's victory in Norwich North as “historic” and branded Labour's campaign as “despicable”. Cameron said by-election winner Chloe Smith, 27, was a credit to the party and the kind of MP he wanted.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:28 UTC

  Uruguay criticizes Mercosur trade barriers and integration delay

  

  Uruguay criticized trade barriers imposed by Mercosur country members which, it said seriously threaten the integration process and represent a “severe reversal” for the original project.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:24 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

  

  Headlines: ‘Govt is disconnected from the community’; Five cases of swine flu confirmed.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:17 UTC

  Uruguay, Chile, Argentina less insecure than the rest of the continent

  

  Uruguay, Chile and Argentina have lower levels of insecurity than the rest of Latinamerica according to secretary general of the Organization of American States Miguel Insulza who said he was against more severe punishments as a strategy to improve security.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:15 UTC

  Spain’s Moratinos defends “the photo of shame” in Gibraltar

  

  Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos defended his visit to Gibraltar on Spain’s Radio Nacional amidst severe criticism mainly from the right wing press. The front page of El Mundo was a banner headline declaring the picture of the three ministers at the top of the Rock as ‘The Photo of Shame’.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:06 UTC

  Ambassador “recovers” Honduras embassy in Mexico for Zelaya

  

  Honduran diplomat Rosalinda Bueso Asfura recovered Wednesday control of the Honduras embassy in Mexico City which had been taken over by adepts to the de facto government of interim President Roberto Micheletti.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 13:51 UTC

  Uruguay takes Mercosur chair for the next six months

  

  Uruguay officially takes the pro-tempore chair of Mercosur from Paraguay on Friday during the main ceremony of the group’s presidential summit in the capital of Paraguay, Asuncion. Originally the meeting was to receive eight presidents but al last moment Ecuador and Venezuela turned back.

• Thursday, July 23rd 2009 - 15:00 UTC

  Mediators say Zelaya must return to Honduras Friday

  

  Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya should return home on Friday, mediators in the crisis have said. But the country's interim authorities, who removed him, have said they will not bow to international demands for his reinstatement.