Politics

• Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Church influence and marriage, fading institutions in Chile

  The importance of religion in people's lives has diminished and this has been most significant for Chile in the last sixteen years, according to the conclusions of a report from the Chilean chapter of Mori public opinion surveys.

• Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  1976 Falklands invasion warning

  

  British officials predicted in 1976 that Argentina would invade the Falkland Islands, according to official documents

• Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Saddam execution '6am Baghdad time'

  

  A top Iraqi official says Saddam Hussein will be executed before 6am on Saturday, Baghdad time, 3am GMT.

• Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Argentine clue witness in human rights trial reappears

  

  Minutes after Argentine President Nestor Kirchner ended a national address saying he will not be blackmailed by paramilitary groups that allegedly have kidnapped clue witnesses in human rights trials, one of them appeared safe and sound.

• Thursday, December 28th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Seven women in Ecuador's incoming cabinet

  

  Ecuadorian President-elect Rafael Correa appointed this week seven women to his Cabinet, including the country's first female Defence minister, saying he wanted to promote gender equality.

• Wednesday, December 27th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Cubans waiting for Castro's New Year message

  The lack of news about the health condition of Cuban president Fidel Castro who underwent serious surgery last July, Cubans are anxiously waiting for their leader's traditional New Year's message when the island celebrates the 48th anniversary of the revolution, according to press reports from Havana.

• Tuesday, December 26th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Mrs. Kirchner with increasing chances for October 2007

  

  Argentine president Nestor Kirchner will leave office next December 2007 to concentrate on building his political force while the First Lady and Senator, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is the leading candidate to succeed her, anticipated this week Congress member Carlos Kunkel from the ruling coalition

• Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Falklands: Blair promises “productive cooperation” with Argentina

  British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that despite the recent diplomatic challenges in relations with Argentina “we will continue to work for productive cooperation”, and for the future security and prosperity of the Falkland Islands.

• Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Priest and General ticket lead opinion polls in Paraguay

  

  A priest and a controversial former general is the most attractive ticket for voters in Paraguay, according to a poll by First Análisis y Estudios published in Asuncion's main daily ABC Color. The ticket comprised of Fernando Lugo and Lino Oviedo has a 27.3% support for the next presidential election, scheduled for April 2008.

• Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Mercosur runs the risk of “collapse”, warn analysts

  

  Mercosur runs the risk of collapsing because it keeps adding members without consolidating as a customs union or having solved the serious tensions between big and junior partners, according to regional analysts.