Stories for December 9th 2007

Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Southampton's proud tradition receives queen of the seas

The new queen of the seas arrived in Southampton Friday to extend a proud tradition. The £300million Queen Victoria berthed for the first time in what will be her home port for years of luxury cruising
Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Buenos Aires invaded by over 5.000 cruise visitors

Early Sunday, over 5.000 tourists from three large cruise vessels will be landing in Buenos Aires, one of the peak days of the 2007/08 cruise season.
Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Chile Patagonia dam project becoming national controversy

Opponents of the so-called Aysén Project, a massive hydroelectric venture planned for extreme south Chile's Region XI, will be mounting a symbolic, nine-day cavalcade later this month.
Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Uruguay joins premier league of world pulp exporters

The first shipment of pulp from Uruguay's Botnia plant left Saturday from the port of Nueva Palmira with final destination Europe. “Swift Arrow” and the Botnia produced 19.000 tons are scheduled to call into two Brazilian ports to complete the cargo.
Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Bolivian assembly approves new draft constitution

A special Bolivian constituent assembly approved this weekend a new draft constitution, despite a boycott by the main opposition party. Bolivians will now have a chance to vote on the changes in a national referendum next year.
Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
South Korea declares state of disaster in oil-spill coastline

The South Korean government has declared a “state of disaster” along a stretch of coastline affected by the country's worst ever oil spill. A fleet of 100 ships are fighting to contain the (66.000 barrels) 10-000 ton spill, but emergency workers have been unable to prevent the oil washing ashore.
Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil's vision of Mercosur includes all of South America

Changes in Argentina are an opportunity for closer political links and economic ties with Brazil while the two leading South American countries work in the construction of a Mercosur extending from the Caribbean to Patagonia, said Brazil's Foreign Affairs minister Celso Amorim.
Sunday, December 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Bank of the South is born in B. A. among leaders' cheers

Six South American presidents launched Sunday in Buenos Aires the Bank of the South, the region's answer to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund as a source for development funds.