Politics

• Friday, January 23rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  FAO launches International Year of Natural Fibres

  

  The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched on Thursday the International Year of Natural Fibres 2009, aiming to raise awareness of the importance of familiar natural resources such as cotton, flax, wool, alpaca and even cashmere, which are often taken for granted in the face of rising competition from synthetic materials.

• Friday, January 23rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

  

  Headlines: Three kayaking expeditions rendezvous at Tamar Pass; Air shuttle service trial to continue; New CEO for Conservation.

• Friday, January 23rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentina/Venezuela ratify strategic, political alliance

  

  Argentina and Venezuela signed on Thursday twenty one cooperation agreements on a range of fields, particularly agro-industry, energy and medical supplies, consolidating the strategic and political alliance between both administrations dating back to 2003.

• Friday, January 23rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Fidel Castro writes about Obama, Cristina and his death

  

  Following five weeks of silence the Cuban leader Fidel Castro published on Thursday two letters or “reflections” in less than 24 hours where he addresses current issues as the new US president Barcak Obama, meeting Argentine president Cristina Kirchner and even talks about his health condition and death.

• Friday, January 23rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  “Sad pictures” of Falklands' war HMS Intrepid torn apart

  

  London's Mail on line published Friday what it describes as “sad pictures” showing the HMS Intrepid, one of the mainstays of the Falklands Task Force, being torn apart in Britain's biggest ever recycling operation.

• Friday, January 23rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Tricky coincidences of Mrs. Kirchner's overseas agenda

  

  The tricky coincidences of Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner diplomatic calendar agenda could again leave her exposed: next April 2nd, which marks the beginning of the Falkland Islands conflict in 1982, will have her in London for a top global economic summit hosted by British PM Gordon Brown.

• Thursday, January 22nd 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Constructive relation with Spain enhance Gibraltar conditions

  

  Gibraltar's Chief Minister Peter Caruana declared that the British Overseas Territory's quality of life and socio-economic and political opportunities are enhanced when relations with Spain are the most constructive possible.

• Thursday, January 22nd 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Obama takes presidential oath of office a second time

  

  Barack Obama retook on Wednesday the US presidential oath of office, after the inauguration blunder that was heard throughout the world. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts delivered the oath to Mr Obama at the White House in a rare move in which no TV camera crews or news photographers were allowed in.

• Thursday, January 22nd 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Overwhelming support for Hillary Clinton Secretary of State

  

  The United States Senate in an overwhelming 94 to 2 vote Wednesday, gave final approval to the nomination of Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. Action was delayed by one day because of Republican concerns about fund-raising by former President Bill Clinton's charitable foundation.

• Thursday, January 22nd 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  US Coast Guard conditions vessels arriving from Venezuela

  

  As of January 23 the United States Coast Guard is imposing conditions of entry on vessels arriving from Venezuela. The measures will be applied to “any type of vessels arriving from Venezuela”.