Politics

• Saturday, May 30th 2009 - 15:43 UTC

  UK reaffirms Falklands’ sovereignty on postage stamps issue

  

  Britain stands by its decision to issue postage stamps from the disputed territories of and around the Falkland Islands, according to a letter to the UN secretary-general made public at the United Nations Headquarters in New York this week.

• Saturday, May 30th 2009 - 15:16 UTC

  OAS can’t agree on Cuba, while Havana ridicules the organization

  

  The task force created by the Organization of American States, OAS, in an attempt to bridge different members’ proposals to consider the readmission of Cuba seems to have stalled with the main actors clearly underlining their stance.

• Saturday, May 30th 2009 - 15:13 UTC

  Chavez avoids debate with Vargas Llosa; will only act as moderator

  

  Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa refused to go to debate on Hugo Chávez' TV program “Hello President” (“Aló Presidente”) because the outspoken Venezuelan President said he was only going to be the “moderator”.

• Friday, May 29th 2009 - 11:29 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

  

  Headlines: Padgett reveals Budget, Deficit announced in line with amended Medium Term Financial Plan; Next of kin to fly in for inauguration;13 year-old supports local team; May Ball colour supplement.

• Friday, May 29th 2009 - 11:24 UTC

  ILO predicts 230 million jobless in 2009; Latam unemployment, 9%

  

  The International Labour Organization (ILO) is predicting global unemployment between 210 million and 239 million people in 2009 which represents a rate of 6.5% to 7.4%. Geneva based ILO made public Thursday its report on “Tackling The Global Jobs Crisis” in advance of the ILO annual conference, which begins June 3.

• Friday, May 29th 2009 - 11:18 UTC

  Next G20 summit will take place in Pittsburgh

  

  United States will host the next G20 summit of world leaders in September, the White House has confirmed. The meeting will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Thursday 24 September and Friday 25 September.

• Friday, May 29th 2009 - 08:43 UTC

  Itaipú is a “political problem”, says Lula da Silva’s main advisor

  

  Differences between Brazil and Paraguay over the world’s largest operational hydroelectric dam, Itaipú, are a “political problem” and not an energy issue according to Marco Aurelio García, international affairs advisor to the Brazilian Executive.

• Friday, May 29th 2009 - 04:04 UTC

  A Tribute to Outgoing United States Assistant Secretary of State Tom Shannon

  

  In the coming weeks, Dr. Thomas A. Shannon, who protected a rational regional policy from the ideological knives of the Bush administration, will step down as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs. By that time, President Obama’s pick for the job, Georgetown University Professor Arturo Valenzuela, will be confirmed by the Senate.

• Friday, May 29th 2009 - 01:58 UTC

  Gibraltar reviews sea patrol procedures to contain Spanish “incursions”

  

  In the wake of recent tense incidents at sea off Gibraltar with Spain, police and military planners have revisited the operating procedures for marine crews patrolling British waters, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.

• Friday, May 29th 2009 - 01:56 UTC

  British MPs expenses scandals forces more resignations

  

  Two more British Members of Parliament have succumbed to intense pressure over their expenses by saying they will not seek re-election. Tory backbencher Julie Kirkbride said the situation had become “unbearable” as she followed husband Andrew MacKay in announcing her departure from parliament at the next general election.