Stories for December 18th 2007

Tuesday, December 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
US press harshly criticizes Chilean presidential hopeful

An influential The Washington Post columnist criticized José Miguel Insulza last Friday, questioning the increasingly clear presidential ambitions of the Chilean secretary general of the Organization of America States (OAS).
Tuesday, December 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
China's economy overestimated but is the world's second

The size of China's economy is overestimated by some 40%, but it remains the world's second largest using a ranking based on purchasing power, the World Bank said Monday.
Tuesday, December 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
La Nacion supports Uruguay in bilateral pulp mill dispute

Buenos Aires daily La Nacion Sunday edition comes strongly in support of Uruguay's position and conduct, --so far--, in the pulp mills controversy with Argentina and describes incoming President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner reference to the issue during her inaugural speech before Congress as “untimely”.
Tuesday, December 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Crucial Brazilian support and loans for embattled Morales

Brazil's government managed energy firm Petrobras announced plans on Monday to invest up to one billion US dollars in Bolivia to increase natural gas production and look for new reserves of the fuel.
Tuesday, December 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Falklands' review relationship with European Union

Falkland Islands Councillors along with representatives of other countries and Overseas Territories recently met to discuss the composition of a paper reviewing their relationship with the European Union.
Tuesday, December 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Distension minuet for Vazquez and Cristina in Montevideo

Contrary to what happened a week ago in the Argentine Congress, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Uruguay's leader Tabare Vazquez made no reference to the pulp mill conflict and exchanged praise and polite gestures during the 34th Mercosur presidential summit held Tuesday in Montevideo.
Tuesday, December 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Mercosur signs first out of region trade accord with Israel

Israel signed Tuesday in Uruguay a free trade agreement with Mercosur, the first ever the South American trade group subscribes with a country outside Latinamerica. Israel's Deputy Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Commerce Eliahu Yishai traveled to Montevideo for the event.
Tuesday, December 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Fidel playing Cuban musical chair but admires Niemeyer

With a letter - the contents of which were broadcast on Cuban TV - Fidel Castro, 81, implied that he would be stepping down as leader and would not put obstacles in the path of a younger leader.