Politics

• Sunday, November 23rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Obama orders economic plan to create 2.5m US jobs

  

  Barack Obama, the US president-elect, has ordered his advisers to produce an economic recovery plan aimed at creating 2.5 million new jobs across the country over the next two years.

• Saturday, November 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuelan municipal elections, key test for Chavez “revolution”

  

  Sunday's elections in Venezuela will be a key test for President Hugo Chavez a year after voters defeated his effort to change the constitution which was targeted to ensure his XXI Socialist-Bolivarian revolution.

• Saturday, November 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  NY Fed Reserve Geithner tipped for Treasury Secretary

  

  United States shares rose sharply on Friday following a report that US President-elect Barack Obama has chosen his treasury secretary, reassuring investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 494 points or 6.5% to end at 8,046.66. The Standard & Poor's 500 climbed 6.3%.

• Saturday, November 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Government hails nationalization of pension funds

  

  Argentina's Senate passed on Thursday a bill to nationalize the private pension funds system in a move that analysts say could protect the potential beneficiaries from short-term stock market chaos but also limit their long-term retirement income.

• Saturday, November 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Hillary Clinton accepts post as Secretary of State

  

  New York Senator Hillary Clinton has accepted President-elect Barack Obama's offer of the job of secretary of state. Hillary is expected to accept the position of secretary of state in the Obama Administration. A formal announcement is planned for after Thanksgiving.

• Saturday, November 22nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Cllr Summers thanks the UK's UN Amb, John Sawers

  

  COUNCILLOR Mike Summers said he would like the House to send its formal thanks and congratulations to the UK's UN Ambassador in New York, John Sawyer, who, with his team, denied an attempt by Argentina and Spain to propose in the United Nations 4th Committee an amendment, which would have denied the right of self-determination to those countries, where there is a sovereignty conflict.

• Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador auditing commission suggests halting bond payments

  A commission auditing Ecuador's foreign debt has recommended that the country halt payments on three bonds worth 3.9 billion USD after finding “illegalities” in the obligations.

• Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  FDA announces offices world wide; first in Beijing

  The United States opened Wednesday a Food and Drug Administration office in Beijing, as the first step in an FDA strategy to try to improve food and drug safety standards around the world.

• Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update

  

  Headlines: Celebrities on deck as Ilen refit gets underway in Ireland; Stanley Services Ltd: kerosene price explosion not imminent; Longer wait for would-be residents pending public consultation on immigrant points scheme; New leaders in renewable energy; FIDC's David Waugh to arrive in New Year; This weeks cruise ships.

• Friday, November 21st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  UK pointed out for not clearing Falklands' minefields

  

  United Kingdom and Venezuela are among countries pointed out for not having met their mine clearance timetable, particularly in the Falkland Islands and along the Colombian border, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, based on the “Landmine Monitor Report 2008: Toward a Mine-Free World”.