Stories for December 17th 2010

Friday, December 17th 2010 - 23:58 UTC
Venezuela crucial to consolidate “energy front” says Cristina Kirchner

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner underlined the significance of Venezuela as a full member of Mercosur which should enable the group to consolidate an energy front.
Friday, December 17th 2010 - 23:12 UTC
Paraguayan president confirms Mercosur/EU trade agreement is top of the agenda

Conditions are ready to reach in the short term a trade agreement with the European Union, said Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo whose country, and for the next six months, holds the pro tempore chair of the South American block.
Friday, December 17th 2010 - 23:04 UTC
IMF anticipates ‘soft-landing’ of Uruguay’s economy in next two years

The International Monetary Fund said economic growth in Uruguay will probably slow over the next two years, requiring policy makers to prepare for a “soft landing.”
Friday, December 17th 2010 - 22:57 UTC
NZ obesity epidemic impacts cemeteries: larger caskets and burial plots

The obesity epidemic is forcing New Zealand funeral directors to introduce larger caskets and look for larger plots for burials. Big people are creating bigger problems for funeral directors and cemeteries.
Friday, December 17th 2010 - 22:43 UTC
Moody’s shocks EU: downgrades Irish debt five notches to Baa1

Moody's has downgraded debt-stricken Ireland by five notches just days after the Irish parliament approved a multi-billion euro international bailout.
Friday, December 17th 2010 - 22:38 UTC
WikiLeaks claims worst attacks are from in Dubai, US, UK and Switzerland

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said his organisation had come under attack not so much from governments but from banks as he vowed to release damaging leaks about them.
Friday, December 17th 2010 - 22:28 UTC
Uruguay, only “full democracy”• in South America; ranks 21 world-wide

Uruguay is South America’s leading democracy and ranks 21 internationally according to The Economist Intelligence Unit, which makes an annual evaluation of democratic conditions.
Friday, December 17th 2010 - 18:41 UTC
New guide documents marine life amazing diversity in Chilean Patagonia

After more than 10 years of research, Chile’s San Ignacio de Huinay Foundation has published a guide chronicling the amazing diversity of marine life in Chile’s Patagonia, with photographs of 473 marine life species
Friday, December 17th 2010 - 07:17 UTC
Mercosur after closer trade relations with Cuba, Palestine, Syria and NZ

Member nations of Mercosur will seek to boost economic and political ties with Cuba in a bid to make the island an associate member of the trade bloc.
Friday, December 17th 2010 - 07:11 UTC
Mercosur condemns UK on Malvinas; promises to monitor shipping in support of oil activities

The Mercosur summit approved Thursday a declaration protesting “formally and energetically” UK’s decision to hold military exercises in the Malvinas islands and reiterated support for Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the South Atlantic Islands.