Politics

• Friday, December 19th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine court orders release of jailed officers

  

  The order to release of 12 torture suspects from Argentina's 1976-1983 military dictatorship unleashed a storm of condemnation from President Cristina Fernandez as well as human rights organizations in Argentina Thursday.

• Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Creditors group condemns Ecuadorian decision to default

  

  The American Task Force Argentina (ATFA) condemned on Thursday Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa's decision to default on 3.8 billion US dollars in government debt owed to foreign lenders, the country's second such default in the last decade.

• Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Unasur will consider Defence Council agenda in January

  The Union of Latinamerican Nations (UNASUR) meeting in Brazil this week agreed the creation of a South American Defence Council, which will have “a collective vision of defence”, as it was defined by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet who currently chairs the twelve-member Unasur.

• Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine Congress backs expropriation of flag air carrier

  

  The Argentine Congress on Wednesday backed a government plan to expropriate Argentina's flag carrier and biggest airline after months of negotiations with the company's Spanish owners broke down.

• Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Cuba closer to region accepts political dialogue on OAS

  

  Cuban president Raúl Castro said he was willing to talk about the possible re-incorporation of Cuba to the Organization of American States, OAS, from which it was expulsed in 1962, according to press reports from Brazil where the Latinamerican and Caribbean summit is taking place with the participation of leaders from the 33 countries.

• Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Democratic Chile has spent billions in upgrading Armed Forces

  

  In a highly sensitive area, Chilean Defence and Armed Forces, rich in resources from copper windfall prices, have a political and strategic problem in their hands with the decommissioning of 200 Leopard 1 tanks to be replaced by 140 Leopard 2, purchased from Germany.

• Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Obama names bio-fuels fervent advocate for Agriculture

  

  US President-elect Barack Obama has announced that Colorado Senator Ken Salazar will serve as Secretary of the Interior in his cabinet. He will be in charge of leasing federal land for energy exploration.

• Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  HMS Endurance expected in Punta Arenas next Friday

  The Royal Navy Ice Patrol Ship HMS Endurance stranded at the western access of the Magellan Strait is being towed by a Chilean tug to Punta Arenas where she's scheduled to arrive next Friday, according to the latest reports from the Chilean Navy Third Naval Zone.

• Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazilian Congress puts Venezuela inches closer to Mercosur

  

  Brazil's Lower House approved the incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur, but a further and tougher hurdle lies ahead: the Senate where several members have anticipated their disagreement, according to sources quoted by the Brasilia press.

• Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  RN new Type 45 destroyer undergoes successful sea trials

  The Royal Navy's first-of-class of the new Type 45 Destroyers HMS Daring has now completed a range of stringent trials and tests and is due to sail to her home port of Portsmouth in January 2009. The 7,500-ton ship is scheduled to undertake several months more of exhaustive trials and training before she is declared ready for operational service.