Politics

• Monday, January 30th 2012 - 06:36 UTC

  Raul Castro’s political reforms remain an announcement

  

  President Raul Castro defended Cuba's one-party political system as a bulwark against US imperialism and said it would remain as it is in a speech on Sunday to a Communist Party conference.

• Monday, January 30th 2012 - 06:25 UTC

  Contruction of St Helena airport begins next May, should be ready in 48 months

  

  The Argentina press announced on Sunday the construction of an airport in the middle of the Atlantic Island of St Helena, a British Overseas Territory and which would become a crucial hopping point for the Falklands/UK air bridge.

• Saturday, January 28th 2012 - 09:35 UTC

  Costa Concordia company offers 11.000 Euros compensation for each passenger

  

  Several of Italy's consumer groups signed an agreement with Costa Cruises to offer about 11,000 Euros to each of the more than 3,000 passengers aboard the Costa Concordia when it hit a rock and capsized near the Italian island of Giglio on January 13, a statement from the consumer groups said.

• Saturday, January 28th 2012 - 07:26 UTC

  Maximo Kirchner, the ‘favourite son’ with ever growing influence in her mother’s administration

  

  The French newspaper Le Monde dedicated last week ample coverage to the son of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, Maximo Kirchner, 34, who has a growing influence in her mother’s administration given his double condition as ‘favourite son’ and leader of a youth group La Campora which he founded and is moving full steam ahead.

• Saturday, January 28th 2012 - 07:09 UTC

  UK praises naming of Argentine ambassador to London, calls for “strengthened cooperation”

  

  The British government acknowledged on Friday the naming of the new Argentine ambassador to the United Kingdom, and stated that they hoped the coverage of the long-vacant position will permit “the strengthening of cooperation” between the two countries.

• Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:44 UTC

  US was aware of Argentine military “systematic plan to steal babies born in captivity”

  

  The administration of US President Ronald Reagan was aware of the “planned” stealing of babies born in captivity from jailed political prisoners, during the Argentine military dictatorship (1976/1983), since there was a “clear decision” to hand them to families considered faithful and reliable to the regime, said a former top US official.

• Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:39 UTC

  Rousseff signals clear difference with Lula da Silva in coming visit to Cuba

  

  Brazil issued a tourist visa to a dissident Cuban blogger a few days before President Dilma Rousseff is scheduled to travel to the Castro family island in a visit being dominated by human rights concerns.

• Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:18 UTC

  Foreign Office has not discussed Gibraltar with new Spanish government

  

  Foreign Office Ministers have not discussed Gibraltar with the new Spanish Government, a Foreign Office spokesman said on Wednesday.

• Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:12 UTC

  Scottish independence debate rattles across Europe fearing breakaway movements

  

  British diplomats are working behind the scenes to dampen down concern in Europe that Scotland's independence debate could trigger breakaway movements across the continent, reports the Herald Scotland.

• Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:01 UTC

  Argentina promises soft credits for farmers to help address drought consequences

  

  The Argentine government agreed with the main farmers’ organizations to grant credits equivalent to 530 million dollars to help combat the drought that affects a large portion of the country and is extensive to neighbouring countries of the Southern Cone.