
An investigation has been launched after minor damage was found on two UK Royal Air Force aircraft shortly after they had completed an in-flight refuelling sortie near the Falkland Islands.

Their extraordinary acts of bravery are separated by 27 years. But as the first woman in the Royal Navy to be awarded the Military Cross proudly collected her medal at Buckingham Palace today a veteran who received the equivalent award for his actions in the Falklands put his medal up for sale.

Portugal's Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Amado said on Monday that Portugal is working as a mediator among Ibero-American countries to achieve a consensus on the Honduras political situation that is threatening the 19th summit’s final declaration.

Uruguayan president elect Jose Mujica and the leader of the junior opposition Colorado Party Pedro Bordaberry met Monday afternoon and agreed to collaborate at technical level in several issues that are considered crucial for the country.

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will be meeting next week with Uruguay’s president-elect Jose Mujica, announced Argentine ambassador in Montevideo, Hernán Patiño Mayer.

Honduras conservative presidential candidate Porfirio Lobo declared Monday he won Sunday’s elections while his main contender accepted defeat and de facto president Roberto Micheletti announced he was ready to hand power and step down.

Brazil launched this week in Geneva a round of negotiations to further liberate trade between Mercosur, India and the Union of Nations from Austral Africa with the purpose of ratifying south-south cooperation, while global negotiations in the framework of the Doha Round remain stalled.

The Paraguayan Senate is also turning its back on Venezuela’s president Hugo Chavez Mercosur incorporation request. A leading Senator from the ruling coalition said that under current circumstances, and Chavez latest statements makes it “virtually impossible” to decide on the issue.

Bolivian president Evo Morales is set to win next Sunday’s general election and could even manage 24 of the 36 Senate seats thus ensuring the full control of the future Pluri-national Legislative Assembly, according to the latest opinion polls.

Honduran cattle rancher Porfirio Lobo apparently won the presidency of the Central American country that is trying to overcome a five-month political crisis and rebuild its economy, according to exit polls and preliminary results released by television and radio stations.