Politics

• Sunday, February 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  FARC promises more liberations on eve of world protest

  

  Colombia's FARC rebels pledged Sunday, on the eve of worldwide protests against the cocaine funded radical guerrilla group, to release three hostages in poor health after seven years of captivity in the jungle.

• Sunday, February 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Credit happy Brazilian minister admits mistake and resigns

  

  Brazil's Cabinet official for racial equality resigned Friday amid charges she had abused her government-issued corporate credit card. Matilde Ribeiro told a news conference that she had “committed a mistake” in using the card to pay for a chauffeured car, restaurant meals, hotels and purchases in a duty free shop in 2007.

• Saturday, February 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chavez devalued and out of tune on his ninth anniversary

  Controversial Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is celebrating this Saturday his ninth year in office but the outspoken, histrionic leader has lost much of his revolutionary élan following his first electoral defeat last December and surrounded by growing problems of internal security, inflation and shortages of food and home supplies.

• Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update

  

  Headlines: An avian checkup; Smoking ban moves closer; Mine clearance: Britain explores its options; 'Encouraging' outlook for illex season.

• Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Obama, Clinton smooth over spats in Hollywood debate

  

  The historic choice for the Democratic presidential nominee came into clear focus at the final Democratic debate Thursday between the two candidates left standing - Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton - who smoothed over their recent spats and turned most of their attacks on Republicans.

• Friday, February 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Paraguay, candidate for Mercosur lady presidents' club

  Paraguay's decades ruling party Partido Colorado formally registered this week a woman and former Education Minister as its candidate for the coming presidential election of April 20. She's the first woman in the country's history to run for president.

• Thursday, January 31st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean Conservatives will preside over Congress in 2009

  

  For the first time in half a century a right wing Deputy will become speaker of the Chilean Lower House following an agreement between the ruling coalition and the opposition conservative alliance.

• Thursday, January 31st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine pickets act as “border patrol and issue passports”

  

  Uruguayan officials reacted with dismay and indignation when it was confirmed that Argentine pickets are extending special “neighbor passes” to those wishing to cross a bridge linking the neighboring countries and which has been blocked in protest over the construction of a pulp mill in Uruguay.

• Thursday, January 31st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Castro brothers softly consolidating transition in Cuba

  

  The younger brother of ailing long time Cuban leader Fidel Castro, acting President Raúl Castro was the top vote-getter in Cuban parliamentary elections, according to official results released Wednesday.

• Wednesday, January 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Regulations for EU financial industry round the corner

  The leaders of Europe's biggest economies have called on financial institutions to improve transparency in all their activities. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown met his French, German and Italian counterparts at Downing Street to discuss the recent global market turmoil. The leaders also called on the IMF and other bodies to monitor risks better.