Politics

• Friday, July 25th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

  

  Headlines: Remelia, Shaun and Nick join the ranks; Govt: 'We want to keep BAS'; Councillor welcomes tax survey but defends increases; Jail considered for cannabis importer; Stop press: Tamar sold.

• Thursday, July 24th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Cristina Kirchner replaces top aide and cabinet chief

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner named on Wednesday a former head of the social security agency Sergio Massa as cabinet chief, in a shake-up just days after the Senate rejected a government tax hike on farm exports, reported the official news agency Telam.

• Thursday, July 24th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Spanish King and Chavez to close “shut up” incident

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez currently on a European tour is scheduled to meet Friday with Spain's King Juan Carlos in Palma de Mallorca, where the royal family is enjoying their summer holidays. The news was confirmed in Madrid by the royal palace and the presidential office.

• Thursday, July 24th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Joint efforts to keep BAS operating from the Falklands

  

  The Falkland Islands government and British Antarctic Survey, BAS, are jointly looking into ways of keeping BAS operating from the Islands. Stanley's airport insufficient fire cover is the obstacle and one of the options considered is using MPA as the primary air station.

• Thursday, July 24th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil to host Latam Caribbean integration summit in December

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva extended an invitation to Latinamerican and Caribbean leaders to discuss regional integration and development in a meeting scheduled next December 16/17 in the northeastern city of Salvador. The announcement was made during a banquet to honor Trinidad and Tobago Primer Minister Patrick Manning.

• Thursday, July 24th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  London ambassador proposes sharing Malvinas resources

  

  ”The only way (for Argentina) to take advantage of the Malvinas resources is to share them, but to share them you must have an agreement (with the UK) and for that you need political will which at this moment does not exist”, said Argentine ambassador in London, Federico Mirré who is retiring after forty years in the diplomatic service.

• Wednesday, July 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela offers Russia strategic alliance against US

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has called for a strategic alliance with Russia to protect his country from United States. Chavez call came as Moscow and Caracas agreed to extend bilateral co-operation on energy.

• Wednesday, July 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Over 11 million Argentines live in poverty or indigence

  

  Rising inflation in the first half of 2008 has meant that 11.3 million Argentines are poor, of which 3.9 million indigent, a significant increase over the previous six months according to a report from a private consultants firm released on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, July 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Change in Argentine cabinet: new Agriculture secretary

  

  Argentina's new Agriculture Secretary takes the oath of office on Wednesday. Carlos Cheppi replaces Javier de Urquiza one of the first victims of the four month long stand off between the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and the protesting farmers.

• Wednesday, July 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  South American cities with serious personal safety problems

  South American cities do not rank favorably with Mercer's highest personal safety ranking based on internal stability, crime, effectiveness of law enforcement and relationships with other countries.