Stories for December 22nd 2018

Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 15:39 UTC
General Rozas becomes new director of Carabineros as Hermes Soto is sacked

Chile's President Sebastián Piñera Friday appointed General Mario Rozas as the new director of Carabineros following the dismissal of General Hermes Soto on Thursday after three vídeos of the force's unproper handling of the Catrillanca case were released.
Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 15:31 UTC
Ex FARC still active guerrilla leader Guacho shot dead by Colombian forces

Walter Patricio Arizala, a.k.a. “Guacho,” the FARC dissident behind the kidnapping and murder of three journalists from Quito's El Comercio newspaper, died Friday during an operation of the Colombian security forces in the jungle of Llorente, in the Tumaco municipality of the south-western department of Nariño, near the border with Ecuador, President Iván Duque announced.
Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 09:24 UTC
Mapuche rebel Jones-Huala gets 9 years in Chilean prison

Argentine Mapuche leader Facundo Jones Huala was sentenced Friday to nine years and one day in jail by a Chilean court in Valdivia. Jones-Huala received a six-year sentence for arson plus three years and one day for illegal possession of a firearm in the context of the 2013 attack at the Pisu Pisué farm in Río Bueno.
Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 09:00 UTC
A builder drove his van for six weeks with the winning ticket of a £76m jackpot

A builder found the winning ticket for a £76m EuroMillions jackpot tucked in the visor of his van six weeks after the draw. Andrew Clark, 51, had a stockpile of lottery tickets in his Peugeot van.
Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 07:32 UTC
Argentina launches the Antarctica Summer Campaign with icebreaker ARA Irizar

With the departure of icebreaker ARA Almirante Irizar, Argentina launched this week its Antarctica Summer Campaign 2018/19. The re furbished icebreaker is scheduled to develop an intense scientific activity, supply Argentina's bases and stations and replace the teams that will be spending a whole season in Antarctica.
Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 07:01 UTC
Marine Protected Areas controversy in the South Atlantic

In a brief communiqué released on Friday the Falkland Islands government takes note of a recent Argentine announcement indicating the creation of Marine Protected Areas to the south of the Budrwood Bank. The Falklands government said it “believes the designation of this area encroaches on our Fisheries Conservation Zone and steps are being taken to address the matter”.
Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 06:50 UTC
South Georgia Island seen from Copernicus Sentinel-2 orbit

The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission takes us over the island of South Georgia. Linked with the South Sandwich Islands to form a British Overseas Territory, this southern Atlantic island is a haven for a vast array of wildlife.
Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 06:35 UTC
Eurnekian's home and business offices raided by the Argentine federal police

Argentine federal police raided this week three addresses belonging to businessman Eduardo Eurnekian as part of an ongoing major investigation into public works contracts awards in exchange for money contributions.
Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 06:11 UTC
Catalonia protest President Sanchez decision to lead his weekly cabinet meeting in Barcelona

Thousands of pro-independence protesters angry about Spain’s cabinet holding a meeting in Catalonia have blocked roads across the region and clashed with anti-riot police in its capital. Grassroots separatist groups and unions called the protests to show their disgust at Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s decision to lead his weekly cabinet meeting in Barcelona.
Saturday, December 22nd 2018 - 06:03 UTC
Pope Francis pledges that “never again” will the Church cover up clergy sex abuse

Pope Francis has vowed that the Catholic Church will “never again” cover up clergy sex abuse and demanded that priests who have raped and molested children turn themselves in. Francis dedicated his annual Christmas speech to the Vatican bureaucracy to abuse, evidence that a year of devastating revelations of sexual misconduct and cover-up has shaken his papacy and caused a crisis of confidence in the Catholic hierarchy.