Stories for December 29th 2006
Church influence and marriage, fading institutions in Chile
The importance of religion in people's lives has diminished and this has been most significant for Chile in the last sixteen years, according to the conclusions of a report from the Chilean chapter of Mori public opinion surveys.
1976 Falklands invasion warning
British officials predicted in 1976 that Argentina would invade the Falkland Islands, according to official documents
Latinamerica 2007: stability and the end of an era
Latin America enters 2007 with renewed political leadership and generally booming economic prospects but highly dependent on the current global bullish market for commodities.
South Africa's Standard Bank Argentine deal an attention call for competitors
The planned purchase by Standard Bank – South Africa's largest private bank by assets — of most of US' Bank of America Corp.'s BankBoston Argentina assets, marks the first large investment by a foreign player in the sector since Argentina's 2001-2002 economic meltdown, and an attention call for competitors, banking sources told MercoPress.
Saddam execution '6am Baghdad time'
A top Iraqi official says Saddam Hussein will be executed before 6am on Saturday, Baghdad time, 3am GMT.
British woman makes polar history in Antarctica
British adventurer Hannah McKeand, 33, made polar history on Thursday when she became the fastest person ever to reach the Geographic South Pole solo and unsupported.
Petrobras declares 19 new areas as “commercially viable”
Brazil's government owned oil corporation Petrobras declared as Commercially Viable 19 new areas (16 offshore and 3 onshore) in the Espírito Santo, Campos, and Santos Basins. A few of them have become new oil and/or natural gas fields, while others have been incorporated into existing neighboring fields.
Argentine clue witness in human rights trial reappears
Minutes after Argentine President Nestor Kirchner ended a national address saying he will not be blackmailed by paramilitary groups that allegedly have kidnapped clue witnesses in human rights trials, one of them appeared safe and sound.
Huge ice shelf adrift in the Arctic, reports Canada
An ice island the size of a small city is adrift in the Arctic after breaking free from one of Canada's largest ice shelves, reported on Friday Canadian scientists.
