Stories for December 29th 2006

Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
1976 Falklands invasion warning

British officials predicted in 1976 that Argentina would invade the Falkland Islands, according to official documents
Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
South Africa's Standard Bank Argentine deal an attention call for competitors

The planned purchase by Standard Bank ÃÂ¢€“ South Africa's largest private bank by assets ÃÂ¢€” 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.
Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
Saddam execution '6am Baghdad time'

A top Iraqi official says Saddam Hussein will be executed before 6am on Saturday, Baghdad time, 3am GMT.
Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC
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.