Stories for December 25th 2006

Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Falklands: Blair promises “productive cooperation” with Argentina

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that despite the recent diplomatic challenges in relations with Argentina “we will continue to work for productive cooperation”, and for the future security and prosperity of the Falkland Islands.
Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Italy's Gruppo Beltrame mulls steel plant in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES ÃÂ¢€” Italy's Gruppo Beltrame, Europe's fifth largest steelmaker, is considering plans to build its first plant outside Europe in Argentina at a cost of about 53 million dollars to manufacture plate for the shipbuilding sector, Río Santiago shipyard (ARS) said in a statement.
Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina determined to ban double fishing licences

A reform of an Argentine law that would force many foreign companies to drop the fishing permits granted to them by the British-controlled Falklands/Malvinas Islands will be passed next April, Congressional sources in Buenos Aires told MercoPress.
Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Korean fishing vessel survivors arrive in Montevideo

Twenty eight of the 34 crew members of the South Korean flagged fishing vessel Insung 207, which was lost in the South Atlantic, arrived in Montevideo over the weekend together with the bodies of four dead comrades.
Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Successful C 17 airdrop mission over Antarctica

An airpower milestone was reached last week when the first ever US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III completed an airdrop mission that delivered about 70,000 pounds of supplies to the South Pole.
Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
China to pursue “prudent monetary policy” in 2007

China will continue to pursue a prudent monetary policy in the coming months, aiming to keep the Yuan exchange rate stable at a reasonable and balanced level, said Monday China's Central Bank in Beijing.
Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Chile's fisheries exports on track to 1.5 billion US dollars

Chile's fisheries exports reached 1.24 billion US dollars during the first ten months of 2006, which represents a 7.9% increase over the same period a year ago according to the country's National Fisheries Society, Sonapesca.
Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Priest and General ticket lead opinion polls in Paraguay

A priest and a controversial former general is the most attractive ticket for voters in Paraguay, according to a poll by First Análisis y Estudios published in Asuncion's main daily ABC Color. The ticket comprised of Fernando Lugo and Lino Oviedo has a 27.3% support for the next presidential election, scheduled for April 2008.
Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
US dollar appreciates in Chile and helps exporters

The US dollar closed in Chile at its highest in two months last week, 531 pesos, following the continuous drop in copper prices, the country's leading export.
Monday, December 25th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Mercosur runs the risk of “collapse”, warn analysts

Mercosur runs the risk of collapsing because it keeps adding members without consolidating as a customs union or having solved the serious tensions between big and junior partners, according to regional analysts.