Politics

• Monday, May 20th 2013 - 05:00 UTC

  Lan privileged passengers but will review investments and expects ‘common sense’ from Argentine officials

  

  Lan Chile admitted the company had to yield to the demands from the Argentine company Intercargo, which monopolizes ground services in all the country’s air terminals, so that they could resume normal traffic in Argentina. It also said that it was not leaving Argentine but would review future investments and expects more common sense from local authorities.

• Monday, May 20th 2013 - 02:37 UTC

  Polynesia in decolonization list; Pacific islands proposal supported by 193 votes in UN General Assembly

  

  The UN General Assembly on Friday put French Polynesia on the global body's decolonization list at a meeting boycotted by France. The resolution, passed by consensus in the 193 member assembly, was called for by the Solomon Islands and other Pacific states that back the Pacific territory's pro-independence parties.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 06:57 UTC

  Maduro admits to knowing “the IDs and all” of the 900.000 Chavistas who did not vote for him

  

  Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro admitted to knowing ‘with IDs and all’ who are the 900.000 Chavistas who crossed lines and did not vote for him in the 14 April election which anointed him as the successor of deceased Hugo Chavez.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 06:53 UTC

  Venezuelan oil monopoly in joint ventures with Chevron and China Petroleum

  

  PDVSA, Venezuela’s government oil and gas giant will allow joint ventures with China National Petroleum Corp. and Chevron Corp. to manage 6 billion dollars in loans designed to revert oil output declines, said a PDVSA official.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 06:21 UTC

  Argentine Antarctic campaigns disarray and corruption claims turn off recruiting

  

  Argentina’s Antarctica campaigns are losing their flair and the country is having difficulties to fill vacancies for the 2013/14 season. This follows repeated claims of alleged corruption and delays in supplying the bases and stations plus an overall lack of support from the Defence ministry.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 03:35 UTC

  “Blue” dollar in Argentina picks up in last day of trading and reaches 8.95 Pesos

  

  In the last business day of the week in Buenos Aires, the parallel market or ‘blue’ dollar rose to 8.95 Pesos (selling price) after its declining tendency during the week, while the official rate ended steady at exchange houses at 5.245 Pesos (selling price). The gap between the two markets stands at over 70%.

• Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 03:30 UTC

  Argentina forces cancellation of all Lan flights by suspending ground services

  

  LAN Chile halted on Friday all its flights in Argentina until Saturday morning after the state company Intercargo which provides ground support for the airline, unilaterally decided to cancel the service despite court orders to the contrary.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 22:51 UTC

  Colombian president Santos announces he will seek second term

  

  Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos gave advance notice Friday that he will seek a second term in the 2014 elections, though he added that, in compliance with the law, he will not make the formal announcement until six months prior to the vote.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 17:58 UTC

  Argentine ex-military dictator sentenced to life, Jorge Videla dies in jail cell

  

  Jorge Rafael Videla, a former army commander who led Argentina during the bloodiest period of a “dirty war” dictatorship and was unrepentant about kidnappings and murders ordered by the state, died on Friday at age 87.

• Friday, May 17th 2013 - 06:51 UTC

  Argentina’s ‘autarkic project’ worsens bilateral relations and multiplies problems

  

  In an interview with the Spanish government news agency EFE, Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica said Argentina’s economic “autarkic project” “worsens” bilateral ties and “multiplies” trade troubles. Still, he ruled out pressures on Buenos Aires; “they won’t work,” he insisted.