Stories for November 2007
All eyes on Ecuador's reforms debate and squabbling neighbors
Confronted Colombia and Venezuela presidents Alvaro Uribe and Hugo Chavez will have to act politely on Friday if they cross each other during the official inauguration of Ecuador's constitutional assembly seated in Ciudad Alfaro, 500 kilometers from the capital Quito.
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update
Headlines:
Goodbye Explorer; Two for By-Election; Howatt to bow out in 2008; Drug arrests.
Booming S. Korea, 11th largest trading country in 2007
South Korea is expected to edge past Hong Kong to become the 11th largest trading nation in the world this year, the Seoul government agency Yonhap reported on Friday.
Colombia “prudently” downplays incident with Venezuela
Colombia hasn't received an official statement from Venezuela on diplomatic relations between the two nations and will act with “prudence and discretion”, Colombian Foreign Minister Fernando Araujo said on Thursday.
Every two containers in the Pacific, one is from China
The number of container units handled by China's mainland ports this year hit 100 million this week, highlighting the country's position as a major player in the industry worldwide, reports China's Daily.
Overseas Territories minister Falklands visit next January
Meg Munn, British Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories, plans to visit the Falkland Islands on 3-5 January 2008. Falklands' Governor Alan Huckle will be drawing up a wide-ranging programme for her in consultation with elected members, according to a release from Government House.
China interested in South Atlantic oil and gas exploration
China is interested in exploring for hydrocarbons on continental Argentina and in the South Atlantic, revealed Beijing's new ambassador in Buenos Aires Zeng Gang. He also said that talks for a possible joint undertaking offshore with Argentina's oil corporation Enarsa are also advancing.
Prison conditions on UN Commissioner visit to Brazil
United Nations High Commissioner Louise Arbour is expected to address conditions in Brazil's prison system and the Government's efforts to promote and protect human rights during her first visit to the country next week.
Chinese markets recover and edge above 5.000 points
Chinese stocks made a big comeback on Thursday to edge just over 5,000 points again, recovering part of the more than 20% losses in less than two months reports China's Daily.
Frosts cut Argentine wheat production by 1.2 million tons
According to the first reports late frosts in early November could have cut Argentina's expected wheat production by an estimate of 1.5 to 2 million tons according to wheat farmers organizations.
