Politics

Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 10:56 UTC
Japan extends grant to Uruguay for solar power development

Japan is extending Uruguay a grant of 8.5 million US dollars to finance a solar power project, according to official Japanese sources. Japan’s Foreign Affairs minister Katsuya Okada and his Uruguayan counterpart Pedro Vaz signed the document Monday.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 10:21 UTC
Employment and industrial production in Euro-zone confirm shrinking tendency

Employment in the Euro-zone shrank during the third quarter and October industrial production also contracted 0.6% on a month-on-month basis, according to the latest release from Eurostat, the European Community Statistics Office.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 08:45 UTC
Brazil to name “Truth committee” to look into torture crimes under military rule

A quarter of a century after the return of democracy, the Brazilian government is seriously considering naming a “truth committee” to look into the torture crimes committed during the 21 year military dictatorship (1964/1985) and which were never taken to court.
Tuesday, December 15th 2009 - 07:35 UTC
Falklands’ veteran, Commander of British Forces South Atlantic Islands

A former Royal Navy commander of the coalition Naval Training Team re-building the Iraqi Navy at Umm Qasr Naval Base and Falklands’ war veteran is the new Commander British Forces Falkland Islands.
Captain Thicknesse was awarded the US bronze star for his work at Umm Qasr.
Monday, December 14th 2009 - 13:23 UTC
Castro and Chavez criticize US at alternative trade summit in Cuba

Cuba's President Raul Castro and Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez have criticised the US during a key alternative trade summit in Havana. Castro accused the US of treating Latin America as its “backyard” and denounced a deal giving US armed forces access to Colombian military bases.
Monday, December 14th 2009 - 13:19 UTC
London could be pushed into third place by Shanghai as financial centre

London could be pushed into third place as a global financial centre by Shanghai in the next decade, according to a report.
Monday, December 14th 2009 - 12:58 UTC
Conservative Piñera faces tougher race in Chile’s January 17 run-off

Chilean Conservative candidate Sebastián Piñera moved on Sunday a step closer to the presidency but he now faces a tougher run-off January 17 when the government is expected to again put its full weight behind incumbent candidate and former president Eduardo Frei in alliance with the Communists.
Monday, December 14th 2009 - 12:55 UTC
US priority: job creation over major fiscal consolidation

Reducing the United States budget deficit at the expense of creating jobs in a still-struggling economy would be “suicide,” a top White House adviser says.
Monday, December 14th 2009 - 12:50 UTC
Mounting pressure for letting Zelaya leave embassy in Honduras

Honduran president elect Porfirio Lobo said on Sunday he is committed to enable ousted president Manuel Zelaya to leave the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, where he remains under refuge following a frustrated attempt last week.
Monday, December 14th 2009 - 11:50 UTC
Brazil “minimizes” visit of top envoy from the Obama administration

Brazil and Bolivia reacted strongly to the US message to Latinamerica about “flirting” with the Iran regime. Brazil is “minimizing” the Monday visit of a top US Department official and Bolivia said that it is sovereign and practices a “dialogue culture” with all countries.