Politics

Saturday, December 26th 2009 - 13:05 UTC
Major UK warfare exercise in the Falklands to repel “enemy invasion”

British forces have been taking part in a major warfare exercise in the Falkland Islands, where hundreds of servicemen died during the 1982 conflict. The Highlanders (4 Scots) joined the Royal Navy and RAF in a two-day operation after an “enemy invasion” on the islands, 8,000 miles from the UK, in the South Atlantic.
Saturday, December 26th 2009 - 12:44 UTC
Hectic Chile: newborns given single names, forget the saint’s day

Breaking from Chile’s tradition of giving babies a compound name - i.e. Juan Pablo, Maria Isabel - more and more parents are opting for single names.
Friday, December 25th 2009 - 16:40 UTC
US Senate confirms ambassadors: Shannon to Brazil and Nelson to Uruguay

United States Senate confirmed Thomas Shannon as the newly appointed US Ambassador to Brazil, after a long delay due to the veto of Republican national deputies, who have showed discontent towards US President Barack Obama's policies as regards Latin America.
Friday, December 25th 2009 - 16:34 UTC
Obama closer to achieving the most important piece of social legislation since 1930

US senators have passed the final Senate version of a historic healthcare reform bill. The bill aims to cover 31million uninsured Americans and could lead to the biggest change in US healthcare in decades.
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 - 09:49 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.