Politics

Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Pope calls peace 'divine gift' in New Year's mass

Peace is a “divine gift,” Pope Benedict XVI said Tuesday in his traditional New Year's Day mass, stressing the role of the family as an agent of peace.
Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Hostage rescue in Colombia collapses

A Venezuelan-led mission to rescue three hostages, including a 3-year old boy, from leftist rebels in Colombia's jungles fell apart Monday as the guerrillas accused Colombia's military of sabotaging the promised handoff.
Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Fidel Castro's New Year's message read on TV

Ailing leader Fidel Castro saluted the Cuban people for their “50 years of resistance” against the United States in a written message read on state television shortly before the first minutes of the New Year.
Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Ban Ki-moon struggles to raise UN profile

Flying 350,000km and visiting 39 countries, Ban Ki-moon has put tireless energy into his first year as UN secretary-general but has struggled to raise the profile of the much-criticized body.
Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Individual privacy protection worsened in 2007, report says

Privacy protection for individuals worsened around the globe in 2007, as governments stepped up surveillance and data-gathering to improve security, according to a report by two advocacy groups.
Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Somali kidnappers free Spanish doctor and Argentine nurse

Kidnappers in the north Somali region of Puntland have freed two aid workers from the Spanish branch of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
Monday, December 31st 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Happy New Year to all our subscribers and readers!

All of us at MercoPress.com wish our subscribers and readers the very best Happy New Year!.
Sunday, December 30th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Chilean ruling coalition looses control of the Senate

Chile's Interior Minister Belisario Velasco admitted that the expulsion from the Christian Democrat (DC) party of Senator Adolfo Zaldívar signals a new scenario for the Chilean Congress since the ruling coalition no longer has a majority in the Senate.
Sunday, December 30th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Oliver Stone will film the release of hostages in Colombia

United States filmmaker Oliver Stone will be filming the much expected handover and release of three hostages held by Colombia's guerrillas, an international operation involving representatives from eight countries.
Sunday, December 30th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Biometric tech means Falklands no longer issues UK visas

From 1 January 2008, those applying worldwide for visas for the UK will need to provide biometric information, in the form of digital finger-scans and photographs, as part of the application process. As a result UK visas will no longer be issued in the Falkland Islands, according to a release from the Islands' Customs and Immigration Department.