Politics

• Monday, July 27th 2009 - 12:23 UTC

  Castro announces second belt tightening and calls on Cubans to work the land

  

  On the 56th anniversary of the start of the Cuban Revolution, the message from President Raul Castro was not at all celebratory: the country must prepare for a second round of belt tightening because of the global financial crisis and promoting agriculture and food production is a “strategic priority”.

• Monday, July 27th 2009 - 12:05 UTC

  India launches first home built nuclear submarine

  

  India formally launched its first home-built nuclear submarine on Sunday, joining a select band of five nations that have the capability to build the sophisticated weapons system. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressed that New Delhi had no aggressive designs nor meant to threaten anyone.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 11:53 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil will address “trade differences” in Sao Paulo

  

  Argentina and Brazil agreed to hold talks next week to address the ongoing trade differences which threaten to sour the bilateral relation. The meeting of Presidents Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Lula da Silva was held on the sidelines of the Friday Mercosur summit in Paraguay.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 11:50 UTC

  Mercosur warns it rejects any attempt to call new elections in Honduras

  

  As was anticipated Mercosur released a strong condemnation of the Honduran de facto government and demanded the immediate reinstatement of constitutional president Manuel Zelaya.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 10:42 UTC

  Argentina/Brazil postpone local currencies swap to promote bilateral trade

  

  Argentina and Brazil postponed the signing of a 1.8 billion US dollars swap agreement that was supposed to promote bilateral trade amid the global financial crisis. Reasons for the delay were not revealed but the event was rescheduled for August 3.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 10:40 UTC

  Mercosur leaders suggest lifting patent rights to produce anti A/flu vaccines

  

  Speaking in the framework of Mercosur summit in Paraguay, the leaders of Argentina and Brazil suggested Friday that developing countries be allowed to lift patent rights so they can produce more vaccines to battle the A/H1N1 virus flu pandemic.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 10:39 UTC

  Ousted president Zelaya completes symbolic crossing into Honduras

  

  The ousted president of Honduras briefly crossed on Friday the country's border with Nicaragua, in a symbolic move that United States described as “reckless”.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 09:25 UTC

  Royal Navy commissions first Type-45 air defence destroyer

  

  The Royal Navy’s newest and most advanced warship HMS Daring was formally commissioned into the fleet in front of the ship's sponsor. The Countess of Wessex, who launched the Type 45 destroyer in Scotland in 2006, was principal guest at the colourful 'Christening' ceremony at Victory Jetty, Portsmouth Naval Base, Thursday 23 July 09.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 07:17 UTC

  Falklands’ combat tested Harrier celebrates 40th birthday

  

  The British designed and manufactured vertical take off Harrier which saw its first combat operations during the Falkland Islands campaign in 1982 this week, Thursday 23 July celebrated its fortieth birthday.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 07:13 UTC

  Tories smash Labour in Norwich North by election

  

  Britain’s Conservative leader David Cameron hailed his party's victory in Norwich North as “historic” and branded Labour's campaign as “despicable”. Cameron said by-election winner Chloe Smith, 27, was a credit to the party and the kind of MP he wanted.