Politics

• Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  China close to Latam: becomes formal member of IDB

  

  China formally joined the Inter-American Development Bank in a signing and flag placement ceremony held on Monday at the IDB's headquarters in Washington, DC. The Asian giant became the Bank's 48th member nation, contributing 350 million US dollars to various programs.

• Monday, January 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Another Kirchner official calls for end to Botnia pickets

  Another strong voice joined the choir of Argentine officials calling for a “responsible attitude” to guarantee free circulation along the three international bridges linking Argentina with Uruguay, which for over two years have been under control of pickets protesting the construction of a pulp mill on the Uruguayan side.

• Friday, January 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  UN calls on Israel for immediate media access to Gaza

  The chief of communications and public information for the United Nations called Thursday on the Israeli Government to ensure immediate access for international media into Gaza, stressing the need for “full and independent” coverage of events unfolding in the territory which has been the target of an Israeli offensive launched nearly two weeks ago.

• Friday, January 9th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Obama and Mexico's Calderón to meet in Washington

  President-elect Barack Obama will meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Monday in Washington. Obama transition officials said the visit was in keeping with the tradition of U.S. presidents meeting with their Mexican counterpart soon after winning election.

• Thursday, January 8th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Obama urges “drastic action” from Congress on stimulus plan

  US President-elect Barack Obama has called for “drastic action” to prevent the US economic situation worsening. In his first major policy speech since being elected, Mr Obama urged Congress to act quickly to pass his 800 billion US dollars stimulus plan.

• Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela expels Israeli ambassador over Gaza bombing

  

  Venezuela expelled on Tuesday the Israeli ambassador to protest against the country's assault on Gaza, after the Venezuelan president described it as a “holocaust”.

• Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Bush's Presidential medals for Uribe, Blair and Howard

  United Status outgoing president George W. Bush will be presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom to his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe and to the former prime ministers of the United Kingdom, Tony Blair and John Howard from Australia.

• Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  “Ponzi” Madoff inquiry targets SEC and regulators

  

  The US Congress has launched an inquiry into a suspected 50 billion US dollars fraud allegedly run by the US hedge fund manager, Bernard Madoff. The House Financial Services Committee is to question regulators and investors to try to determine why the authorities failed to uncover the scandal.

• Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile's presidential election has two main candidates

  A public opinion poll gauging the support of what are considered Chile's five main political leaders –and presidential hopefuls--, shows the head of the conservative opposition leading comfortably, but his runner up is closing in.

• Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Sir Alan Walters, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's personal economic advisor, dies aged 82

  

  Professor Sir Alan Walters, former personal economic advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and credited with being an architect of the 1980's renaissance of the economy of the United Kingdom, died peacefully at home on Saturday at the age of 82.