Politics

• Saturday, May 2nd 2009 - 09:39 UTC

  “Itaipú proposal” waits President Lugo when he visits Brazil

  

  Brazil could anticipate payments to Paraguay for the energy from the shared huge Itaipu dam, which should help the Treasury of the weakened President Fernando Lugo. However Brazil would also like to see an end to Paraguay’s intention of modifying the Itaipu dam accord, according to the Brazilian press quoting government sources.

• Friday, May 1st 2009 - 13:31 UTC

  Falklands’ customers disenchanted with telecoms provider

  

  Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update. Headlines: Lack of trust between Cable and Wireless and the customer; Reckless driving: verdict today

• Friday, May 1st 2009 - 12:43 UTC

  Cuba reacts to US blacklisting calls Washington “international criminal”

  

  Cuba reacted strongly on Thursday calling the US government an “international criminal” after Washington said it was keeping Cuba on a list of countries that allegedly support terrorism. The US State Department released a report lumping Cuba with Iran, Syria and Sudan on a blacklist as sponsors of terrorism.

• Friday, May 1st 2009 - 00:40 UTC

  A US diplomat and lobbyist who helped carve recent Latinamerican history

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner surfaced this week the name of a former US ambassador, and US corporation lobbyist, linked to notorious events of Latinamerican history of the last century at a ceremony in Government House.

• Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 23:29 UTC

  End of UK military presence in Iraq; Tories call for Franks’ report on the war

  

  A ceremony has been held in Basra Thursday to mark the official end of the six-year British military presence in Iraq, reports BBC. UK combat operations ended as 20 Armoured Brigade took part in a flag-lowering ceremony with a US brigade.

• Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 12:32 UTC

  “The Kirchners and their model are taking us back to the explosive 2001”

  

  Following on fear tactics, Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner warned that if in the coming June mid term elections the government looses its majority “we’ll be back at the explosive Argentina of 2001”.

• Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 12:13 UTC

  Brazil, Argentina consolidate dominance of Mercosur

  

  Mercosur representatives reached this week in Asuncion, Paraguay a political agreement which opens the way for the creation of a Supranational Justice Tribunal and “contained” proportional representation in the Mercosur parliament.

• Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 12:08 UTC

  Raul Castro still open to talks with US, but rejects idea of symbolic gesture

  

  Cuban President Raul Castro said Wednesday his country does not need to make any symbolic “gestures” as it pursues better relations with the United States. Addressing the Non Aligned Movement meeting in Havana Castro said he is still willing to talk about all issues and that it was up to the US to make the next move.

• Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 12:05 UTC

  Morales lobbies for Cuba and describes himself as partly “Marxist-Leninist”

  

  Bolivia’s president Evo Morales defined himself as “Marxist-Leninist” in an interview with the Argentine newspaper Clarín in which he rejects the continued exclusion of Cuba from the Organization of American States, OAS dating back to 1962.

• Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 05:27 UTC

  HMS Illustrious at Centenary celebration of Naval Aviation

  

  HMS Illustrious, which played a role in the aftermath of the 1982 Falklands War, is to visit London to mark the Centenary Year of Naval Aviation next week. On May 7 1909 the Admiralty first set aside £35,000 for the development of an airship - the process that led to the formation of the Fleet Air Arm.