Politics

• Friday, February 4th 2011 - 05:04 UTC

  Army poised for endgame in Egypt

  

  By 3pm last Friday afternoon, the protesters in central Cairo were chanting: “Where is the army? Come and see what the police are doing to us. We want the army.” And that is the main question, really. Where is the Egyptian army in all this?

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 22:17 UTC

  Brazil to provide free medicines for high blood pressure and diabetes

  

  Brazil is to provide free medicines for everyone suffering from high blood pressure or diabetes. The drugs will be distributed as of next month through a nationwide network of budget pharmacies, where many medicines are already heavily subsidised.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 22:05 UTC

  Vodafone forced to send pro-Mubarak mobile-phone text messages

  

  UK’s Vodafone was ordered to send mobile-phone text messages by the Egyptian government, urging people to confront “traitors and criminals” as demonstrators demanded the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 21:54 UTC

  Brazilian industry loosing world market share to main trading partner, China

  

  Competition with top trading partner China is costing Brazilian industry valuable market share, the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) in South America's largest economy said on Thursday.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 21:17 UTC

  With inflation pressures ‘contained’, ECB leaves interest rates unchanged

  

  European Central Bank (ECB) has kept interest rates in the Euro zone unchanged at a record low 1%, despite fears of increasing inflation. Speaking at a press conference after the rate decision, the ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet claimed that inflation pressures remained contained.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 06:35 UTC

  Chavez celebrates 12 years in office and anticipates six more

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez celebrated Wednesday his twelfth anniversary in power saying he is ready to battle for six more years in elections next year. Chavez said in a televised speech that “the battle has begun” for his 2012 re-election.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 06:31 UTC

  Cairo’s Tahir Square battle rages on; snipers shooting on protestors

  

  Gunfire has rung out in the early hours of Thursday around Cairo's Tahrir Square, where Egyptian anti-government protesters are camping out. At least two people are reported dead. On Wednesday three died in clashes with supporters of President Hosni Mubarak.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 01:53 UTC

  Spain’s second biggest bank boosted by strong Latin American profits

  

  BBVA, Spain's second-biggest bank, reported on Wednesday a full year 9.4% net profit increase in 2010 as solid results from Latin America offset continued weakness in its domestic market.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 01:50 UTC

  Spain celebrates 20th anniversary of Cervantes Institute in 44 countries

  

  Spain’s Cervantes Institute to promote Spanish language and culture is marking its 20th anniversary with more than 6,500 activities at the 77 centres is has opened in 44 countries and among this year’s plans is the inauguration of a centre in Gibraltar.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 01:45 UTC

  Catholic Church admits values of Liberation theology, “free of ideological influences”

  

  The values of the Liberation Theology remain valid but the task of decoupling the option for the poor from ideological influences remains incomplete, said Brazilian Archbishop Joao Braz de Aviz of Brasilia, head of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.