Stories for December 19th 2006

Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
The Kirchner couple, the most influential figures in Argentina

Argentina's president Nestor Kirchner and First Lady Cristina Fernandez are considered the most influential personalities of the year in the country, from a list of a hundred outstanding figures, according to an opinion poll released Monday in Buenos Aires.
Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Pulp mills dispute turns into bitter duel in The Hague

Uruguay and Argentina clashed Monday in The Hague before the International Court with bitter allegations indicating that the escalating controversy between neighboring countries over the building of pulp mills far from easing is turning more acrimonious. The only thing both sides agreed on was to request a second day of hearings.
Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Global warming harms Chile's salmon industry

Two environmental experts lashed out the Chilean and Argentine governments this week for their failure to address environmental issues currently damaging ecosystems and agriculture on both sides of the Andes.
Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Bolivia ready to formalize Mercosur full membership request

President Evo Morales will officially formalize this week the request for Bolivia to become a full member of Mercosur, announced Monday in Brasilia Bolivian Foreign Affairs minister David Choquehuanca.
Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Scioli's candidacy a Kirchner need, not a heartfelt desire.

President Néstor Kirchner's likely decision to send in Vice-President Daniel Scioli to run for governor in Argentina's richest district next year would not reflect so much his heartfelt desires, but sheer political need after a tiny province dealt him a severe blow.
Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
New FIG website: Introduces the Islands as “a dynamic UK Overseas Territory”

THE Falkland Islands Government has launched an updated website -
www.falklands.gov.fk
ÃÂ¢€” which provides visitors with a comprehensive overview of today's Falklands.
Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Spanish concern over Argentine stance on Falkland fisheries

Representatives from the General Secretariat of Maritime Fisheries (SGPM) and the Spanish General Directorate of Fisheries Resources met with the Argentine lawmaker Silvia Giusti in the Argentine Senate for talks over the bill that tacitly proposes eliminating the so called “double permits.”
Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
New Petrobras rig with 135.000 bpd potential

Petrobras began operating this week a new oil rig with an estimated initial daily production of 15.000 barrels of heavy oil, 17 degrees API in the Jubarte field off Espirito Santo state, according to a release from the corporation.
Tuesday, December 19th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Chile adds two new regions to the existing 13

Chile will add two more Regions to the existing thirteen beginning mid 2007 following the approval in Congress of the initiative. The new regions are XIV Valdivia, divided into the provinces of De Los Rios and Ranco and the XV, Arica and Parinacota.