Stories for January 18th 2010

Tuesday, January 19th 2010 - 01:57 UTC
Lula da Silva absent from Bolivia’s Morales taking office ceremony

Brazilian president Lula da Silva will not be participating this week at Bolivia’s Evo Morales taking office ceremony. He will be represented by his foreign affairs advisor Marco Aurelio García, according to Valor Economico, a financial publication from Sao Paulo.
Tuesday, January 19th 2010 - 01:54 UTC
Chile’s Concha y Toro, one of the world’s top ten exporters of wine

Chilean wine brand Concha y Toro increased its export volumes by 22% in 2009, according to figures released by the company over the weekend.
Tuesday, January 19th 2010 - 01:50 UTC
Britain rejects latest Argentine claim to Falklands’ sovereignty

The British government has firmly rejected the latest claim by Argentina to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, Members of Parliament have been told, according to a report from BBC.
Monday, January 18th 2010 - 13:37 UTC
Haiti: Situation less chaotic but magnitude of human lives loss still unknown

Up to 200,000 people are feared dead as a result of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that has destroyed much of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, according to officials. Trucks have been trying to collect the bodies that have been visible on the streets across the city for burial in mass graves outside the capital.
Monday, January 18th 2010 - 13:33 UTC
Former world champion Carlos Sainz claims first Dakar rally in Buenos Aires

Spain’s Carlos Sainz claimed his first Dakar Rally victory after finishing second in the 14th and final stage which ended Sunday in the Argentine capital. The former world rally champion finished the race 2min 12sec ahead of Volkswagen team-mate Nasser al-Attiyah, who won the leg from San Rafael to Buenos Aires.
Monday, January 18th 2010 - 13:31 UTC
US and NZ share the biggest wind farm in Antarctica

The biggest wind farm in ice covered Antarctica and which can generate enough electricity to power 500 homes, was formally switched on this weekend.
Monday, January 18th 2010 - 11:46 UTC
Conservative Piñera ends 20 years of centre-left rule in Chile

Chilean billionaire Sebastián Piñera won a landmark victory in Sunday's presidential election, becoming the country’s first conservative leader since the end of the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet two decades ago.
Monday, January 18th 2010 - 11:44 UTC
Australian aboriginal leaders to ask Prince William for remains of local warrior

Australian aboriginal elders will ask Prince William to help them find the decapitated head of the great Aboriginal warrior, Pemulwuy and return it to their homeland.
Monday, January 18th 2010 - 11:42 UTC
The seven kilos leg of an Iberico ham plus DNA certificate for £ 1.800

The world's most expensive ham has gone on sale, complete with its own DNA certificate as a proof of authenticity. The leg of Iberico ham, which weighs seven kilos, is on sale at the food hall in Selfridges in London's Oxford Street.
Monday, January 18th 2010 - 11:35 UTC
Brazil Catholic Church attacks government initiative on abortion and gay rights

Brazilian president Lula da Silva and his National Program on Human Rights which last week apparently overcame military intransigence, now faces another formidable voice in the country’s politics: the Brazilian Episcopacy, disappointed with the abortion and gay marriage proposals.