Politics

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.
Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Woman to the rescue of “failed” US financial watchdog

Mary Schapiro has been named the next head of the US financial watchdog Securities and Exchange Commission. President-elect Barack Obama officially nominated her as the first permanent chairwoman of the regulator.
Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Gibraltar celebrates EU tax case victory with public holiday

Gibraltar Government hailed on Thursday the comprehensive victory in the European Union tax case “as huge for Gibraltar, economically, socially, politically and constitutionally”.
Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Iron Duke back in UK after Caribbean and Falklands patrolling

Royal Navy warship HMS Iron Duke returned to Portsmouth on Thursday from operations in the Atlantic which included a £50 million drug bust in the Caribbean, combined patrolling around the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and navigating the iceberg-infested Antarctic Convergence Zone
Thursday, December 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UK engineers and spares in P Arenas wait for Endurance

Twenty four passengers from the stranded Royal Navy Ice Patrol HMS Endurance arrived Thursday morning to Punta Arenas on board the Chilean navy missile fast boat “Casma”.