Stories for December 4th 2010

Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 06:58 UTC
Unasur secretary general nomination could be delayed until mid December

The nomination of a secretary general for Unasur, Union of South American Nations, could be delayed until mid December since discussions on the sidelines of the XXth Ibero-American summit in Mar del Plata, Argentina, are currently stalled and time is running short, according to political analysts.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 06:53 UTC
Partial announcement of Brazilian president-elect cabinet

Brazil's president-elect on Friday named as her chief of staff a former aide to President Lula da Silva who was forced to resign as Finance minister in 2006 amid a corruption scandal.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 06:48 UTC
Brazil recognized the state of Palestine based on borders before 1967

Brazil recognized on Friday the state of Palestine based on borders before Israel seized control of the West Bank in 1967. The foreign ministry said the recognition was in response to a request made by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to President Lula da Silva earlier this year.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 06:38 UTC
Reports that Repsol-YPF have made a major natural gas discovery in Neuquén

Repsol-YPF has made a mega natural gas strike in the Patagonian province of Neuquen which could supply Argentina with energy for the next half century at least according to an online publication, lapoliticaonline.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 03:20 UTC
Falklands’ referendum planned on ‘single constituency’

Despite a resounding ‘no’ nine years ago, from the Falklands’ Camp (rural) community, to the idea of a single voting constituency, the Islands government has agreed that the question will be asked again.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 02:59 UTC
China, Brazil announce “macro-prudent” measures to cut liquidity, tighten credit

Two of the strongest emerging economies Brazil and China announced Friday measures to withdraw liquidity tighten credit and contain inflation. Brazil’s “macro-prudent” measures are geared to cut on money circulation, while China said monetary emphasis will change from “relatively loose” to “prudent”.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 01:31 UTC
Lula da Silva and Obama, best evaluated leaders in Western Hemisphere

Brazil’s Lula da Silva and US Barack Obama are the Western hemisphere leaders best evaluated and most respected, according to a paper based on a public opinion poll and which was released Friday by the NGO Latinobarometro.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 01:26 UTC
GeoPark Chile raises 113 million USD for further oil exploration in Magallanes

The Latin American oil and gas explorer and producer GeoPark which has been successfully drilling for oil and gas in the extreme south of Chile has made a private placement of 133 million US dollars to invest in expanding activities.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 00:34 UTC
Ozone hole over Antarctica smallest in five years, says NZ research centre

The ozone hole over Antarctica has shrunk to the smallest in five years, according to a New Zealand’ National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, NIWAR. The hole decreased in size to about 22 million square kilometres from 24 million square kilometres last year, said Auckland-based NIWAR in an e-mailed statement today.
Saturday, December 4th 2010 - 00:24 UTC
Falkland Islands Government wants a louder voice in the world stage

The UK Coalition Government would like to see the Falkland Islands being more proactive in getting the message to the world that the Islands are a modern democracy with good above international governance standard.