Stories for December 14th 2006

Thursday, December 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
“Fantastic” US/Argentina bilateral relations

United States Under Secretary for Latinamerica Tom Shannon described US/Argentina relations are “fantastic” during a seminar where two former Latinamerican Foreign Affairs ministers criticized President Nestor Kirchner for his “left wing populism”.
Thursday, December 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
EU leaders set to toughen membership conditions

European leaders will seek to reassure sceptical voters at a summit starting on Thursday by toughening policy on enlargement of the European Union, without though slamming the door on a queue of aspiring nations.
Thursday, December 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
IMF warns Latinamerica is lagging investment

The International Monetary Fund, IMF said that higher levels of investment in Latinamerica can only be reached if several obstacles are tackled: a significant cut in current debt level; lower government expenditure; expansion of the taxable base and greater credibility for monetary institutions.
Thursday, December 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Chilean export fraud with meat shipped to Japan

Chile's Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) will send at least two representatives to Japan this weekend to clarify any questions the Asian government may have regarding the recent red meat exported to the island nation and stamped with false sanitation seals.
Thursday, December 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Uruguay committed to Mercosur, but disputes persist

Uruguay's Foreign Affairs minister Reinaldo Gargano said Uruguayan farmers are interested in remaining in Mercosur in spite of the growing difficulties to solve the asymmetries between big and small country members and bilateral disputes.
Thursday, December 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Lan confirms discount rates and night flight to Punta Arenas

Lan Chile announced that as of December 18, its special rates system will be made extensive to all itineraries between Santiago and Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt, and the recently introduced test night flights to those cities will become definitive.
Thursday, December 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Ban Ki-Moon sworn is as new UN Secretary General

South Korea's Ban Ki-Moon was sworn in on Thursday, before the 192-member General Assembly, as the next United Nations Secretary-General while outgoing Kofi Annan who held the job for ten years was given a prolonged tribute.
Thursday, December 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Another Venezuelan ambassador on the tight rope

With mounting tension between the Bolivian government and four of the country's nine provinces pressing for regional autonomy, Venezuela's ambassador caused a political seism when he admitted the possibility of sending Venezuelan troops in support of the administration of President Evo Morales.
Thursday, December 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Lula da Silva officially inaugurates Mercosur Parliament

Despite constant trade disputes Mercosur this Thursday found respite and motive to celebrate with the official inauguration of the block's Parliament in Brazil.
Thursday, December 14th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Bajii Yangtze dolphin “is functionally extinct”

The Baiji Yangtze Dolphin is with all probability extinct reports a scientific expedition from the Institute for Hydrobiology Wuhan, China, and the Swiss-based baiji.org Foundation. During six weeks they desperately searched the Yangtze River for a specimen but in vain.