The Government could nationalise private schools hit by the recession by turning them into state-funded academies, it has been reported.
Headlines: St Brandan loses contract Tamar steps in to fill gap; Audit puts hospital on the sick list; Kayaker makes epic journey.
While bankers and politicians met this week in Davos for the World Economic Forum a rival summit in the Brazilian city of Belem challenged them and blamed the capitalist system for the current global crisis.
A Colombian delegation headed by Senator Piedad Córdoba left for Brazil on the first leg of a multi-day journey to obtain the release of six hostages held by the FARC guerrilla group. The first stop is at San Gabriel de Cachoeira in Brazil's Amazon jungle, where the group will coordinate the hostage release
Chile's Party for Democracy, or PPD, named former president and leader of the Christian Democrats Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle as presidential candidate for the December election.
A Falklands Islands war trophy has been sold at auction for around ten times its estimated value, reports mediawales.co.uk. The oak nameplate carrying the name Islas Malvinas from an Argentine patrol vessel went under the hammer for £ 5.040 at an auction of military memorabilia by auctioneers Bonhams.
Every home in the UK is to have broadband internet access by 2012 under Government plans. Lord Carter's Digital Britain report proposed to scrap BT's obligation to ensure every home has access to a telephone line and replace it with a requirement to provide broadband
President Hugo Chavez boasted that Venezuela has more foreign reserves to face the current global crisis that Spain or Germany, following a cabinet meeting which was broadcasted live.
United States Defence Secretary Robert Gates told Senators that although much attention was given to Russia's recent courting of some Latin American countries he is more concerned about new activities of Iran in the region.
Italy on Tuesday recalled its ambassador to Brazil for consultations in response to Brasilia's definitive decision to grant political refugee status to a convicted Italian terrorist.