Stories for December 7th 2006

Thursday, December 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

Blair and Bush in Iraq talks

Tony Blair is meeting US President George Bush for talks on Iraq, in the wake of a major report backing the withdrawal of most US combat troops by 2008 as part of a significant shift in tactics.

Thursday, December 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

Bolivia, Chile presidents to meet for sea access at CSN summit

Chile's President Michelle Bachelet will meet her Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales on the sidelines of the South American Community of Nations (CSN) meeting Chile's Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley said on Wednesday.

Thursday, December 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

Venezuelan president begins visit to four South American nations

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in Brazil on Wednesday for discussions on energy and infrastructure cooperation between the two countries.

Thursday, December 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

US blocks Hizbullah funds in S. America

The Bush administration took action Wednesday aimed at choking off a major fundraising channel for Hizbullah operating in the tri-border area of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.

Thursday, December 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

Chile stocks edge back from record high, peso gains

Chile stocks edged down from record highs in sluggish Monday afternoon trade as investors awaited economic growth and inflation data, while the peso rose against the dollar.

Thursday, December 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

China the world's leading steel producer and exporter

China has become a net steel exporter for the first time with exports up 92% year reaching 33 million tons in the first ten months of 2006. Simultaneously China's steel imports dropped 29% to 15.5 million tons, reports Xinhua.

Thursday, December 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

Euro system basic rate increased 25 points to 3.5%

The European Central Bank at Friday's Governing Council meeting in Frankfort decided to increase the minimum rate for the Eurosystem by 25 points to 3.5%.

Thursday, December 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

Large stretch of Amazon comes under protection

A large stretch of Brazilian Amazon rain forest almost the size of Uruguay was placed under government protection this week, a region infamous for violent conflicts among loggers, ranchers and environmentalists.

Thursday, December 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

Evo Morales hosts his first regional summit

Bolivia this weekend is hosting a summit of the South American Community of Nations (CSN), with President Evo Morales trying hard to present himself as a regional leader amid political trouble and a mass hunger strike at home.

Thursday, December 7th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

EU ratifies support for Botnia pulp mill in Uruguay

The European Union praised the World Bank decision to extend a 170 million US dollars loan for the completion of the Botnia-Orion pulp mill in Fray Bentos, Uruguay, and which has become the core of a dispute with neighboring Argentina.