Politics

• Monday, January 28th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  First time ever Chile Senate deputy chair goes for Magallanes

  

  Political turmoil in the Chilean ruling coalition which has left President Michelle Bachelet without a majority in the Senate has meant that for the first time Magallanes region, in the extreme south of the country, will have a deputy speaker in the upper house beginning March 2009.

• Monday, January 28th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  In 4 years Kirchner contracted 37.000 new employees

  The Argentine government contracted 37.000 civil servants under the administration of president Nestor Kirchner, (2003/2007) which works out at an average of 35 new employees every day, according to reports from the Ministry of Economy published Monday in the Buenos Aires press.

• Sunday, January 27th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chavez claims US and Colombia planning war provocation

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez claimed that United States and Colombia were plotting an incident that would spark a war with Venezuela. The charges, supported by alleged troop movements in the border area caused fear among the civilian population of the neighboring countries.

• Friday, January 25th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update

  

  Headlines: Bad weather = £184k loss; An end to Tamar's delay?; Dockyard project moves on; Dorada's future unclear; Mini Sports this weekend.

• Thursday, January 24th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Uribe with 80% popularity fights for US Congress support

  Colombian president Alvaro Uribe has an 80% support, the highest since taking office back in 2002, according to the latest public opinion polls released this week. The previous poll in November showed Uribe with a 74% support and 14% negative response.

• Friday, January 18th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

  

  Headlines; Surf's up!; Tamar FI breakdown: meat export concerns; New boss at FIGAS has Islands link; FGML closes Falklands operation; ASSI team to assess under-threat airstrips.

• Thursday, January 17th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile Congress approves pension reforms for all

  

  Chile's congress backed a pension reform bill Wednesday to ensure the country's landmark social security program for the first time covers every citizen.

• Thursday, January 17th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  HMS Endurance visit rejected by Ushuaia Malvinas veterans

  

  Argentine Malvinas veterans from Tierra del Fuego in the extreme south of Argentina made public their dissatisfaction with the coming visit of Britain's ice patrol HMS Endurance to the port of Ushuaia next January 26.

• Thursday, January 17th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivia's Morales and rebel governors agree to seek compromise

  

  Divided Bolivia took a tentative step toward reconciliation as President Evo Morales and opposition governors agreed to seek a compromise between Morales' new constitution and declarations of autonomy by four resource rich eastern states.

• Thursday, January 17th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile summons ambassador in Lima over limit dispute

  Chile summoned home its ambassador to Peru for consultations amid a growing dispute over the countries maritime boundary and lucrative fishing grounds. Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley said Ambassador Cristian Barros was due in Santiago Thursday or Friday “for a long conversation”.