Stories for December 29th 2007

Saturday, December 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Magallanes and Punta Arenas have Chile's lowest unemployment

Magallanes in the extreme south of Chile remained as the region with the lowest unemployment, 2.6% during the September-November quarter, according to the latest release from the National Statistics Institute.
Saturday, December 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
WWF: gorilla, jaguar and lynx continue to drastically decline

The number of animals, plants and other organisms continued to decline in 2007, but for some the threat of extinction had been successfully warded off, the environment organization the WWF said Thursday.
Saturday, December 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Four companies accused of huge oil spill in Patagonia

The government of the province of Chubut, Argentine Patagonia, formally accused before a court of justice several oil corporations for the crude spill which washed along four kilometers of the provincial coast damaging rich marine resources and limiting tourist industry prospects.
Saturday, December 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Petroperu plans to sell 10% stake to finance investments

Petroleos del Peru SA, Peru's state oil company and the country's largest, plans to sell a 10% stake on the Lima Stock Exchange next year to raise funds for investment projects, Chief Executive Officer Cesar Gutierrez revealed on Thursday.
Saturday, December 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
LAN Cargo & 24 other carriers face price fixing allegations

Chile's flag carrier LAN Airlines said on Thursday that its cargo unit LAN Cargo S.A. was one of 25 global cargo airlines facing allegations of possible price fixing of cargo fuel surcharges.
Saturday, December 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Rescuers ready to pick up freed FARC hostages

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sent two helicopters into Colombia on Friday on a delicate mission to pluck three hostages from the rebel-held jungle.
Saturday, December 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
United Kingdom: Airport baggage restrictions remain

Some of Britain's major airports have not yet been given permission to relax a rule restricting passengers to one item of hand baggage, the Government has said.
Saturday, December 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Damaged Antarctic cruise takes refuge in Chilean base

The Norwegian flagged cruise vessel MS Fram with 318 passengers on board drifted into an iceberg in Antarctica overnight Saturday but there were no injuries and passengers were reported to be calm. The vessel is currently anchored next to Chile's President Frei Antarctic base in King George Island.
Saturday, December 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Sao Paulo stock exchange gained a record 43.4% in 2007

Brazil's main stock market, Ibovespa ended an exceptional 2007 with a turnover of 570 billion US dollars and its biggest annual gain in four years, over 40%. The Sao Paulo stock exchange closed Friday at 63.774 points, accumulating 43.4% gain over the closing of 44.473 points a year ago.
Saturday, December 29th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
US dollar lost 6.65% against the Chilean peso in 2007

The US dollar finished 2007 with an accumulated loss of 6.65% against the Chilean Peso which was boosted by the strong international price for copper, Chile's main export, and the favorable interest rates differential with the US, according to Santiago analysts.