Politics

Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Cubans can now build their homes with own private funds

Cubans will be permitted to build their own homes using their own private funds, President Raul Castro announced on Sunday, in the latest reforms to back off the centralized economy hard-line orthodoxy of the past five decades.
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil beefs up troops and forts to protect Amazon forest

Brazil plans to double the number of troops along the borders of its vast Amazon rain forest area in the framework of the “Protecting Amazon” project, reported O Estado de Sao Paulo” this weekend.
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
PM Brown calls for Argentine cooperation with Falklands

British PM Gordon Brown praised the new Falkland Islands constitution which enshrines the right to self determination and promised UK continued support for the development of the Islands hydrocarbons sector.
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Sir Alan Walters: “radical, fearless, the finest of friends”

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's influential economics adviser, Sir Alan Walters, has died aged 82. Sir Alan's return as an adviser led in 1989 to the resignation of Chancellor Nigel Lawson, with whom he had clashed over the exchange rate mechanism (ERM).
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Cuba's Raul Castro scheduled to visit Uruguay this year

Cuban president Raul Castro will be visiting Uruguay this year, according to reports in the Uruguayan government oriented press. Castro was extended an invitation last June when Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez was in the island and later confirmed in an official letter.
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Socialist candidate abandons Chilean presidential race

The Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza announced Monday his withdrawal from the Chilean presidential elections scheduled for next December.
Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Doha hangover: Lamy unopposed for his second WTO mandate

The current director-general of the World Trade Organization, Pascal Lamy, is the only candidate for the position. He was the only candidate when nominations closed on 31 December.
Saturday, January 3rd 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina recalls 1833; Falklands, new constitution

On the eve of the 176th anniversary of the “illegitimate occupation” of the Islas Malvinas by the United Kingdom (January 3rd.) the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner issued a statement emphasizing Argentina's sovereignty claims over the South Atlantic archipelago and described “as unjustified the British negative to address the question”.
Thursday, January 1st 2009 - 20:00 UTC
New Year begins with a new Constitution for the Falklands

January first 2009 marks an important milestone in the history of the Falkland Islands as a new constitution takes effect, providing enhanced local democracy and internal self-government and enshrining the right of self-determination.
Thursday, January 1st 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Pope Says Global Crisis a Test for Future

Pope Benedict marked World Day for Peace and the feast of Mary Mother of God Thursday appealing for a reworking of the global financial system and a spiritual and moral revolution that puts solidarity for the poor in pride of place.