January 5, 2005

According to The 2005 Index of Economic Freedom, the USA has for the first time dropped from the top 10 free nations of the world, Hong Kong continues its number one ranking for the 11th consecutive year, released by the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal. (The Heritage Foundation | 2005 Index) (Financial Times)
Venezuela promises to investigate claims that Rodrigo Granda, a prominent member of the Colombian rebel group FARC, was captured from Caracas instead of from inside Colombia. Granda was arrested December 13, 2004. (BBC)
Serbian Justice Minister Zoran Stojkovic rejects the U.N. ICTY war crimes tribunal's demands that Serbia arrest four generals accused of committing atrocities in Kosovo. (B92) (BBC)
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission accuses Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca of involvement in a massive debt fraud; TV Azteca stock on the New York and Mexico City exchanges drops 9% on the news. (BBC)