World Politics News

U.S. and EU face calls for farm reform at WTO

Reuters - Sun Jul 20, 1:25 PM ET

GENEVA (Reuters) - Developing countries and food exporters from rich and poor nations called on Sunday for the United States and European Union to open up their farm markets and eliminate trade-distorting subsidies.

  • Serbia: Envoys may return to EU states AP - Sun Jul 20, 12:31 PM ET

    BELGRADE, Serbia - Serbia's foreign minister announced plans Sunday to reinstate the country's ambassadors to EU countries that recognized Kosovo's independence.

  • Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, jokes with Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe during a press conference in Sopo, north of Bogota, Saturday, July 19, 2008. Lula is on a two-day official visit to Colombia. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
    Brazil, Colombia boost trade ties AP - Sun Jul 20, 5:06 AM ET

    BOGOTA, Colombia - The presidents of Brazil and Colombia vowed Saturday to boost trade and investment between their nations ahead of crucial world trade talks next week.

  • Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim, right, and Argentina's Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana front left, attend a Mercosur meeting, in Rio de Janeiro, Monday, July 14, 2008. According to Amorim, developed nations' agricultural subsidies and tariff barriers for farm goods, remain the biggest obstacle to an agreement on the long-stalled Doha round of World Trade Organization talks. Mercosur members are Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and Bolivia. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
    Brazil official's Nazi reference rocks WTO talks AP - Sun Jul 20, 4:32 AM ET

    GENEVA - Some pre-negotiation jabbing turned into a potentially damaging diplomatic incident Saturday when Brazil's foreign minister said rich countries' deception in trade talks reminded him of tactics used by Nazi propaganda chief Joseph Goebbels.

  • From left to right, front row, Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, Honduras' President Manuel Zelaya and Paraguay's President- elect Fernando Lugo attend an event marking the 29th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution which overthrew Nicaragua's Somoza dictatorship in 1979 in Managua, Saturday, July 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)
    Chavez demands respect from US, EU AP - Sun Jul 20, 12:24 AM ET

    MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has a message for future U.S. and European leaders: Treat Latin America with respect.

  • A newly-arrived Thai soldier, center, walks through Cambodian soldiers as he heads from the border to a Cambodian Buddhist temple which Thai soldiers have occupied Saturday, July 19, 2008 near Preah Vihear temple, Preah Vihear province, Cambodia. The military stand off between Cambodia and Thailand entered its fifth day Saturday, as both sides continue to reinforce their troops ahead of scheduled talks over a disputed border area. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
    Cambodia informs UN on alleged incrusion AP - Sun Jul 20, 12:13 AM ET

    PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Cambodia has sent a note to the U.N. Security Council alleging that Thai forces intruded into its territory near an ancient temple.

  • In this Sept. 11, 2007 file photo, representatives of the Fire Dept. of New York, New York City Police Dept. and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Dept, left to right, place flowers in the water of a reflecting pool on the sixth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center site in New York. City officials, who had said 2007 would be the last year families would be allowed into the site, confirmed Friday, July 18, 2008 that the families will now be allowed to descend to the base of the trade center towers this Sept. 11, as in past years. (AP Photo/Justin Sullivan, Pool, File)
    WTC survivor staircase moves again at ground zero AP - Sat Jul 19, 5:04 PM ET

    NEW YORK - A staircase people used to escape the World Trade Center during the Sept. 11, 2001, attack has been moved for a second time on the ground zero site.

  • Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir dances during the ceremony of signing Sudan's new election law in Khartoum in this recent photo from July 14, 2008. Algeria urged other Arab nations on Saturday to press the United Nations Security Council to prevent the International Criminal Court (ICC) from issuing an arrest warrant for al-Bashir.REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdalla (SUDAN)
    Arab ministers criticize ICC Sudan charges Reuters - Sat Jul 19, 4:34 PM ET

    CAIRO (Reuters) - The Arab League criticized the International Criminal Court's prosecutor for seeking the arrest of Sudan's president on genocide charges, saying diplomacy should be given a priority to solve the conflict in Darfur.

  • Zimbabwean police in Harare. Zimbabwe's opposition was gearing up to ink an agreement that paves the way for fully-fledged talks on the country's crisis after the African Union and UN agreed to help bolster the mediation.(AFP/File/Alexander Joe)
    Zimbabwe opposition set to sign talks agenda AFP - Sat Jul 19, 12:45 PM ET

    HARARE (AFP) - Zimbabwe's opposition was Saturday gearing up to ink an agreement that paves the way for fully-fledged talks on the country's crisis after the African Union and UN agreed to help bolster the mediation.

  • EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana Javier Solana, left, shakes hands with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili before a meeting on nuclear issues at the Town Hall in Geneva, Switzerland, Saturday, July 19, 2008. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
    Iran nuclear talks stall, even with US at table AP - Sat Jul 19, 2:46 PM ET

    GENEVA - A U.S. decision to bend policy and sit down with Iran at nuclear talks fizzled Saturday, with Iran stonewalling Washington and five other world powers on their call to freeze uranium enrichment.

  • Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), gestures during a news conference at his residence in Harare July 2, 2008. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo
    Zimbabwe opposition may sign initial talks agreement Reuters - Sat Jul 19, 2:57 PM ET

    HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's main opposition party could sign an agreement as early as Monday to begin substantive talks with President Robert Mugabe's party on ending a political impasse that has worsened the country's severe economic crisis, opposition officials said on Saturday.

  • E.U. foreign policy chief Javier Solana is pictured before a meeting on nuclear issues with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili at the Town Hall in Geneva July 19, 2008. World powers will sound out Iran's readiness to negotiate an end to the long dispute over its nuclear programme on Saturday, and Tehran said more such meetings might be needed. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
    Iran won't discuss enrichment freeze in next talks Reuters - Sat Jul 19, 12:14 PM ET

    GENEVA (Reuters) - Iran's top nuclear negotiator ruled out on Saturday discussion of freezing uranium enrichment at any subsequent round of talks with major powers.

  • Cambodian Buddhist monks sit alongside Cambodian soldiers on a road leading to Preah Vihear temple near Cambodia-Thai border on July 18. Cambodia has asked the United Nations to intervene in its border dispute with Thailand, a Thai official said, the fifth day of a tense stand-off between the neighbours.(AFP/File/Tang Chhin Sothy)
    Cambodia asks for UN help in Thai border stand-off: Thailand AFP - Sat Jul 19, 9:44 AM ET

    PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia(AFP) - Cambodia has asked the United Nations to intervene in its border dispute with Thailand, a Thai official said on Saturday, the fifth day of a tense stand-off between the neighbours.

  • European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana (L) is pictured with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili prior to talks on Tehran's nuclear programm. World powers' latest bid to make Iran halt its nuclear programme stalled Saturday as high-level talks involving US and Iranian officials ended without a deal and Washington warned of possible further "confrontation."(AFP/Fabrice Coffrini)
    US warns Iran as nuclear talks yield no deal AFP - Sat Jul 19, 5:01 PM ET

    GENEVA (AFP) - World powers' latest bid to make Iran halt its nuclear programme stalled Saturday as high-level talks involving US and Iranian officials ended without a deal and Washington warned of possible further "confrontation."

  • French President Nicolas Sarkozy is pictured before a meeting at the Elysee palace in Paris. Sarkozy has said in an interview he would "listen and understand" why Irish voters rejected the European Union's reform treaty when he visits the country.(AFP/File/Eric Feferberg)
    Sarkozy says Irish visit to understand EU No vote AFP - Sat Jul 19, 5:29 AM ET

    DUBLIN (AFP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy said in an interview published Saturday he would "listen and understand" why Irish voters rejected the European Union's reform treaty when he visits the country.

  • US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, DC on July 18. Iranian, European and US officials have begun talks in a bid to resolve the dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme.(AFP/File/Tim Sloan)
    Iran hopes nuclear talks will create negotiating framework AFP - Sat Jul 19, 4:53 AM ET

    TEHRAN, July 19, 2008 (AFP) - Iran hopes that talks to be held on Saturday with the EU foreign policy chief will create a "framework for negotiations" to end the nuclear crisis, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said.

  • Consumer electronics group defends world trade Reuters - Fri Jul 18, 6:43 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer electronic companies, who depend on open markets to keep their costs low, are mounting a cross-country campaign to persuade worried American voters that trade is good for them.

  • Navanethem Pillay, president for the War Crimes tribunal in Rwanda, takes part in a news conference in the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, in this March 17, 2003 file photo. The former South African judge who was the first black woman to serve on her country's highest court will be the next U.N. human rights commissioner, diplomatic and U.N. officials said Friday, July 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Keystone, Sandro Campardo)
    South African reported to be new UN rights chief AP - Fri Jul 18, 6:23 PM ET

    UNITED NATIONS - The United Nations chief told rights advocates Friday that his choice to be the next U.N. human rights commissioner is a South African judge who was the first black woman to serve on her country's High Court, the director of Human Rights Watch said.

  • In this Sept. 11, 2007 file photo, family members of the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York place flowers at the reflecting pool at ground zero on the sixth anniversary of the attacks. New York City officials, who had said 2007 would be the last year families would be allowed into the site, confirmed Friday, July 18, 2008 that the families will now be allowed to descend to the base of the trade center towers this Sept. 11, as in past years. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
    WTC site will be open again to families this 9/11 AP - Fri Jul 18, 5:32 PM ET

    NEW YORK - Sept. 11 victims' families will be able to mourn their loved ones at the World Trade Center site again on the terrorist attacks' seventh anniversary.

  • Bulgarian Vice-Pime Minister Meglena Plugchieva holds a press conference at the Bulgarian representation to European Union in Brussels. The European Commission will condemn Bulgaria's corrupt administration and judiciary in a scathing report next week on Sofia's handling of EU funds, according to draft text seen Friday.(AFP/Dominique Faget)
    Brussels set to slam Bulgaria over use of EU funds AFP - Fri Jul 18, 3:21 PM ET

    BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Commission will condemn Bulgaria's corrupt administration and judiciary in a scathing report next week on Sofia's handling of EU funds, according to draft text seen Friday.

  • US Trade Representative Susan Schwab holds a press roundtable in January 2008. The United States on Thursday expressed guarded optimism about trade talks next week aimed at rescuing the WTO Doha Round if China leads developing countries to make concessions.(AFP/File/Tim Sloan)
    Senate panel urges U.S. reject "unbalanced" Doha deal Reuters - Fri Jul 18, 2:57 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Key farm state senators warned the Bush administration on Friday they would not support a world trade deal that cuts U.S. farm subsidies more than it opens foreign markets to American farm products.

  • EU proposes $1.6B food crisis fund AP - Fri Jul 18, 7:31 AM ET

    BRUSSELS, Belgium - The European Union on Friday proposed a $1.6 billion two-year emergency fund to help poor countries cope with the global food crisis.

  • UN to end Myanmar aid flights on Aug. 10 AP - Fri Jul 18, 7:31 AM ET

    BANGKOK, Thailand - A United Nations decision to end aid flights to Myanmar next month could hurt relief efforts already struggling to reach millions of survivors with adequate food and water, humanitarian groups said Friday.

  • Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is shown in this June file photo in Washington. European terrorists are trying to enter the United States with European Union passports, and there is no guarantee officials will catch them every time, Chertoff said Thursday. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari, FILE)
    Chertoff: European terrorists trying to enter US AP - Fri Jul 18, 5:03 AM ET

    WASHINGTON - European terrorists are trying to enter the United States with European Union passports, and there is no guarantee officials will catch them every time, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday.

  • International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo listens to a question during a news conference regarding the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the ICC Thursday, July 17, 2008 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. Ocampo sought an arrest warrant Monday for Sudan President Omar al-Bashir on charges of waging a campaign of genocide and rape in Darfur. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
    Prosecutor looks at 3rd war crimes case in Darfur AP - Fri Jul 18, 1:28 AM ET

    UNITED NATIONS - With an arrest warrant pending against Sudan's president, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor said Thursday he was focusing on another war crime case in Darfur involving two suspected rebel commanders allegedly directing attacks against peacekeepers.

  • The United States on Thursday expressed guarded optimism about trade talks next week aimed at rescuing the WTO Doha Round if China leads developing countries to make concessions.(AFP/Graphic)
    US optimistic on WTO talks if China leads concessions AFP - Thu Jul 17, 9:32 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States on Thursday expressed guarded optimism about trade talks next week aimed at rescuing the WTO Doha Round if China leads developing countries to make concessions.

  • Supporters of Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir demonstrate outside parliament in Khartoum, July 16, 2008, against the decision by International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo to charge Bashir. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah
    ICC prosecutor won't back down on Sudan's Bashir Reuters - Thu Jul 17, 5:00 PM ET

    UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The International Criminal Court's top prosecutor said on Thursday he would not drop his call for the arrest on genocide charges of Sudan's president, but the United Nations said the court must weigh the impact of its work.

  • Bush picks new U.S. representative to African Union Reuters - Thu Jul 17, 3:55 PM ET

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush has chosen John Simon, executive vice president of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, as the new U.S. representative to the African Union, the White House said on Thursday.

  • U.N.'s Ban pushing ahead with Kosovo handoff to EU Reuters - Thu Jul 17, 3:32 PM ET

    UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Despite Russian objections, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a report made public on Thursday he was pushing ahead with a plan to hand over policing functions in Kosovo to the European Union.

  • World Health Organisation staff return to Iraq Reuters - Thu Jul 17, 1:06 PM ET

    GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) has for the first time since 2003 redeployed expatriate staff to Iraq, the United Nations agency said on Thursday.

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