Stories for December 18th 2009
“Legal insecurity” becomes top issue of Argentina’s political agenda
Top United States official remarks about the lack of “legal security” in Argentina echoed in Copenhagen’s climate conference where Foreign Secretary Jorge Taiana approached Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to about these “unfortunate statements”.
Argentina successfully tests locally designed and manufactured missile booster
Argentina announced the successful launching of a missile booster, --identified as Gradicom PCX-2009-- in a firing range in the central province of Cordoba and said the event represented a “qualitative leap” for Argentine missile technology.
Uproar of elation for the most beautiful girl in the world: Miss Gibraltar
British Overseas Territory Gibraltar came to a buzzing standstill Thursday afternoon, showered in red and white, and bathed in sunshine, to welcome Miss World 2009 Kaiane Aldorino back home. There were unprecedented scenes of jubilation of enormous magnitude, with an entire population wanting to join in this once in a lifetime celebration, wanting to be a part of history – not just local but world history.
Chavez picks on Holland for a verbal exchange; The Hague demands clarification
The Netherlands government on Friday described as “groundless” the claims made by President Hugo Chávez in a speech on Thursday, when the Venezuelan ruler said that the Netherlands was plotting with United States “to target” Venezuela from the islands of Aruba and Curacao.
HMS York en route to the Falklands for South Atlantic patrolling
HMS Gloucester is expected Monday in Portsmouth in time for Christmas following a very successful six and half month in the South Atlantic. She was replaced early December by HMS York which is already on route to the Falkland Islands.
Uruguay will retain close relations with Venezuela, “but no ALBA”
Uruguay’s next Foreign Affairs minister Ambassador Luis Almagro said that president elect Jose Mujica’s administration will sustain “an important relation” with Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez because it is the country’s main supplier of oil and one of ten leading trade partners.
Record temperatures and low precipitation forecasted in Chile until March
Wednesday was a record hot day for Santiago de Chile - 94 degrees Fahrenheit – and the weatherman says higher than normal temperatures are not going away anytime soon.
Ship loaded with Uruguayan livestock lost off Lebanon: 20 crew members rescued
At least 20 crew members were rescued Thursday night after a cattle transport ship with more than 80 people capsized in waters off the coast of Tripoli when storms battered the eastern Mediterranean according to Lebanese security and United Nations sources.
Argentina plans to sell 15 billion USD in debt instruments
Argentina filed a shelf offering with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for the sale of up to 15 billion US dollars in debt instruments in the United States, according to documents posted on the SEC’s website.
President Obama envoy met with Mujica and today visits Paraguay
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo A. Valenzuela visited Uruguay on Thursday where he met with president elect Jose Mujica and Vice-president Danilo Astori.
