Stories for December 2009

Friday, December 25th 2009 - 16:13 UTC
Newsweek predicts death of Fidel Castro and coup in Venezuela

Next year will see the death of the veteran Cuban leader Fidel Castro and the fall of Venezuelan President following a coup, according to the predictions from the latest edition of US magazine Newsweek.
Friday, December 25th 2009 - 15:54 UTC
Australia again threatens Japan with legal action for whaling

The Australian government insists it will take international legal action against Japan if it doesn't stop whaling. And it will send surveillance boats to the Southern Ocean to monitor the Japan's annual whaling hunt if it needs to mount a legal case
Friday, December 25th 2009 - 15:43 UTC
Le Monde names Brazil’s Lula da Silva as “Man of the Year”

French daily Le Monde named Brazilian President Lula da Silva “Man of the Year” for “personifying a giant”. It is the first time in its history the French publication has made this designation.
Thursday, December 24th 2009 - 09:57 UTC
Venezuela imposes power cuts and announces network of “Socialist” shops

Venezuela has imposed sweeping power cuts on industry and businesses in order to save its limited energy resources and avoid mass blackouts. The government said the cuts were because of falling water levels at the Guri Hydroelectric dam, which supplies much of the country's power.
Thursday, December 24th 2009 - 09:52 UTC
Father Christmas arrives for Lan Chile with contract for 30 Airbus A 320

Chilean flag carrier LAN Airlines and its subsidiaries, one of the leading airlines in Latin America, announced Wednesday that the Company signed a contract for the purchase of 30 Airbus A320 family aircraft to be delivered between 2011 and 2016.
Thursday, December 24th 2009 - 09:49 UTC
Another austerity year ahead for Cubans announced Raul Castro

The Cuban economy grew by only 1.4% in 2009, far from an initial forecast of 6%, Economy and Planning minister told parliament this week. Marino Murillo said that Cuba’s exports fell by 22.9% this year, while imports were down 37.4%. Prospects for 2010 are modest: 1.7% growth.
Thursday, December 24th 2009 - 09:26 UTC
Minutes show Bank of England unanimous vote on December decisions

All nine members of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to hold interest rates at its December meeting. Minutes from the meeting also showed that the MPC was unanimous in voting to maintain the £200bn quantitative easing (QE), or asset buying, programme.
Thursday, December 24th 2009 - 09:18 UTC
Tribunal admits only 49% of registered Hondurans voted on November 29th

Over half of Honduras registered voters in Honduras did not participate in the controversial presidential election last November 29th, held under the de facto regime, according to figures released by the country’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
Thursday, December 24th 2009 - 09:14 UTC
Bolivian Tribunal confirms Evo Morales’ sweeping electoral victory

Bolivia’s re-elected president Evo Morales ratified his sweeping victory on December 6 general election when he was supported by 64.2% of the vote, according to the final vote count from the country’s Electoral Court.
Thursday, December 24th 2009 - 09:03 UTC
EU, US and OAS condemn killing of Colombian governor attributed to FARC

The European Union, United States and the Organization of American States condemned the killing of Colombian governor Luis Francisco Cuellar, which has been attributed to the Marxist-inspired, drugs-funded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, the oldest guerrilla grouping operating in the country.