Stories for December 9th 2009

Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 14:41 UTC
Mercosur summit committed to advance trade negotiations with Europe

Mercosur is committed to advance trade negotiations with the European Union and expects to have drafted a viable position when leaders from Latinamerica and the Caribbean meet with their European Union counterparts next May for the Madrid summit.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 14:37 UTC
Mercosur presidents strongly reject Honduras November elections

Mercosur presidents expressed their most “energetic condemnation” of the Honduran coup and “total and full rejection” of the November 29th elections which represent a strong blow to “the democratic values of Latinamerica and the Caribbean”.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 14:33 UTC
HRW: 1.000 “resistance” killings annually by Rio and Sao Paulo police

Police officers in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo routinely resort to lethal force, often committing extrajudicial executions and exacerbating violence in both states, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Tuesday.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 14:29 UTC
Venezuelan top private bankers help to calm markets and depositors

A two-week banking crisis in Venezuela seems to be settling down following President Hugo Chavez announcement that private banks will be respected but new rules to make the system more transparent and production-geared will begin to be enforced.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 08:42 UTC
Cruise visitors in Uruguay this season close to 400.000

Uruguay’s Ministry of Tourism forecasts some 400.000 tourists and crew members will be visiting the country during this summer cruise season, which represents a slight increase over the previous year.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 08:38 UTC
Economists suggest coordinated rates cuts to protect Latam currencies

Latinamerica should consider the possibility of a coordinated interest rate cut, in consultation with the IMF to combat the appreciation of local currencies was suggested Tuesday by a group of former government financial officials and economists from the region.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 08:32 UTC
Brazilian Senate ready to vote on Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation

Brazilian president Lula da Silva announced Tuesday during the Mercosur summit in Montevideo that the Brazilian Senate should, finally, vote on the incorporation of Venezuela to the South American trade group as a full member.
Wednesday, December 9th 2009 - 08:23 UTC
Search for remains of British priest killed when 1973 Chilean coup

Investigators will be searching for the body of torture victim Father Micheal Woodward at a cemetery in the Chilean city of Valparaiso (Region V) through next month, the victim’s family informed Chilean press on Monday.