Stories for December 2007

Tuesday, December 4th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
UN appeals for ongoing fight to eradicate landmines

On the tenth anniversary of the landmark international anti-mine treaty this Tuesday December 3, Ban Ki-moon urged the world's peoples and governments to continue the fight to abolish anti-personnel landmines.
Tuesday, December 4th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
The world's third highest waterfall discovered in Peru

The third highest waterfall in the world is in the Peruvian Amazon rain forest and measures 895.4 meters according to the country's Nacional Geographic Military Institute, IGN. The announcement was made by Foreign Trade and Tourism minister Mercedes Araoz.
Tuesday, December 4th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Uruguay expects good tourist season: 1.8 million in 2007

An estimated 1.8 million tourists will have visited Uruguay in 2007, a figure similar to that of last year, with income in the range of 750 million US dollars. However “prospects for 2008 are more encouraging given the increased connectivity of Uruguay in the region”, said on Tuesday Deputy Tourism minister Liliam Kechichian.
Tuesday, December 4th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Bali climate change conference takes off with warning

The largest ever conference on climate change has opened on the Indonesian island of Bali with more than 10.000 delegates from 192 countries attending. The two weeks of United Nations led talks are intended to negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Protocol which expires 2012.
Monday, December 3rd 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Punta Arenas methanol plant diversifies gas supply

Canada's Methanex Corporation the world's largest producer of methanol announced it agreed to finance Chilean natural gas explorations by GeoPark holdings in exchange for a share of the gas it finds in the Magallanes basin.
Monday, December 3rd 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil to propose South American Defence Board

Brazil will propose the creation of a South American Defence Board which would enable the region “to think in the common future, of a very rich region that must be well defended”, said Brazilian Foreign Secretary Celso Amorim.
Monday, December 3rd 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Venezuela said NO to Chavez's Referendum new powers

Venezuelan voters narrowly rejected a constitutional referendum that would have bolstered President Hugo Chavez's embrace of socialism and granted an indefinite extension of his eligibility to serve as president, the National Electoral Council reported early Monday.
Monday, December 3rd 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Fidel Castro readies to play the role of elder statesman

Cuban leader Fidel Castro who is recovering from a long illness was nominated Sunday for a seat in the National Assembly opening the way for him to resume governing.
Monday, December 3rd 2007 - 20:00 UTC
OPEC meeting in Abu Dhabi divided over pumping more oil

Oil prices rebounded Monday as speculation grew that OPEC may decide to leave output unchanged at a meeting this week in Abu Dhabi. New York's light sweet crude for January delivery, closed at 89.31 dollars per barrel and in London Brent North Sea crude jumped 1.54 dollars to settle at 89.80 dollars.
Monday, December 3rd 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Mercosur summit host Uruguay, sends critical message

Uruguay is disenchanted with Mercosur because national interests and market segmentations prevail over the original idea and the block “has not functioned as it was supposed to” admitted Carlos Amorin, head of Uruguay's Foreign Office Integration and Mercosur Desk.