Stories for 2009

Wednesday, February 4th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
FARC releases former governor captive for eight years

Colombia's biggest guerrilla group freed Tuesday former Governor Alan Jara, a captive for almost eight years, in what it called “goodwill” gesture even as the rebels step up terror attacks on the nation's cities.
Wednesday, February 4th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Storm kills five, blackouts Argentina's second city

Five people, including two children, died and at least 47 others have been injured in the storm that is battering central Argentina, which was recently hit by the worst drought in the past 50 years, officials said Tuesday.
Wednesday, February 4th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Veterans 'Liberty Lodge' opens in Falklands

LIBERTY Lodge, built in the Falklands to house visiting British Falklands War veterans, was officially opened last night by the Commander British Forces Falkland Islands.
Wednesday, February 4th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Falklands' politician fined by UK's market watchdog

Speaker for the Falkland Islands' Legislative Assembly, Darwin Lewis Clifton OBE, has been fined by Britain's Financial Services Authority (FSA) for dealing in oil shares on the basis of inside information. However, FSA described Mr. Clifton's conduct as “non deliberate” and said his full cooperation with the investigation had qualified him for a 30% fine reduction.
Wednesday, February 4th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil's Lula da Silva breaks polls' approval record

Brazil's president Lula da Silva had a stunning 84% approval during January the highest since taking office in 2003, according to the latest public opinion poll published this week in Sao Paulo. Meanwhile his Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet is recovering from low records and now has a 53% support the second highest since December 2006 (54.3%).
Wednesday, February 4th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
World progressive leaders meet in Chile to talk politics

Chile will be hosting at the end of March the “Progressive Leaders' summit” which is organized by the British think-tank Policy Network. The previous event was in London, last April hosted by Prime Minister Gordon Brown as head of the Labour party.
Wednesday, February 4th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Salary cap and perks disclosure for US bailed out companies

US President Barack Obama announced Wednesday his government will impose a salary cap of 500,000 US dollars for senior executives at companies receiving federal economic bailout funds.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Falklands denies any arrangements for SAR pilot Prince William

Falkland Islands deputy governor Paul Martinez described British press reports on Prince William doing part of his 18 month RAF Search and Rescue (SAR) course in the South Atlantic Islands (claimed by Argentina) as speculation and not correct.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentine governors call for lower taxes on farm exports

Cordoba and Santa Fe, two big farming provinces in Argentina, are calling on the federal government to suspend crop export taxes for three to six months to help farmers in the face of the worst drought in decades.
Tuesday, February 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
National holiday to celebrate Venezuela's Chavez ten-year rule

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has declared a national holiday to mark his 10 years in power. The capital, Caracas, was quieter than usual, as workers and children stayed away from offices and schools.