Politics

• Monday, May 18th 2009 - 11:29 UTC

  Uruguay’s leading poet and Latinamerican writer dies in Montevideo

  

  Mario Benedetti, Uruguay’s leading poet and one of Latinamerica’s most read authors died Sunday in Montevideo at the age of 88. He became famous in the Spanish speaking world in 1960 with his landmark novel La Tregua (The truce) which years later served as the script for a much praised film.

• Monday, May 18th 2009 - 11:05 UTC

  New UK Chief of Joint Operations visits Falklands

  

  The United Kingdom newly appointed Chief of Joint Operations (UK) Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach KCB CBE has enjoyed a busy, week long visit to the Falkland Islands.

• Monday, May 18th 2009 - 11:02 UTC

  IMF head forecasts global economy recovery at end of 2009

  

  The turnaround in the global economic slowdown could come in October or November this year, but an economic recovery depends on many factors and isn't likely to start for another year, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Khan, warned Friday.

• Monday, May 18th 2009 - 10:54 UTC

  First visit of a Brazilian president to Saudi Arabia

  

  Brazil and Saudi Arabia signed Sunday an agreement to expand cooperation in oil, mining, infrastructure, science and increase bilateral trade said the Brazilian Foreign Affairs Ministry said. The agreement was signed in presence of King Abdullah and visiting Brazilian President Lula da Silva.

• Monday, May 18th 2009 - 08:30 UTC

  Thousands of Guatemalans demand resignation of President Colom

  

  Thousands of Guatemalans have marched through the capital to demand the resignation of President Alvaro Colom over the killing of a lawyer. Before his death lawyer Rodrigo Rosenberg recorded a video saying that if he was found dead the President and his aides would be responsible.

• Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 13:26 UTC

  Peru army to quell Amazon protests

  

  The government “authorises for 30 days the intervention of the armed forces to ensure the continued functioning of essential services in select districts” of the Amazon rainforest region, a statement from the ministry of defence said on Saturday.

• Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 13:06 UTC

  Chavez promises to combat the “terrorist” press of Venezuela

  

  Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez anticipated that the “terrorist” media of his country will face the full consequences of the law for their insistence in allegedly manipulating, misleading or fabricating the president’s statements.

• Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 12:58 UTC

  To school for reading classes with Karl Marx and Che Guevara

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez approved last week a list of books for schools to educate young people on Socialist ideology and the Bolivarian revolution, reported the Caracas press.

• Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 12:55 UTC

  Uruguay scraps rules banning homosexuals from armed forces

  

  This week Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez announced that his government will “allow gays to join the armed forces” by scrapping military rules that define homosexuality as a disorder”.

• Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 12:51 UTC

  Labour voters support equals that of UK Independent Party, 17%

  

  The ruling Labour slumped to be neck and neck with the United Kingdom Independence Party in a poll as voters looked set to punish mainstream parties over the expenses scandal at the ballot box next month.