Stories for December 2010

Saturday, December 18th 2010 - 08:55 UTC
Obama signs bipartisan tax-cut bill resisted by hard core Democrats

United States president Barack Obama signed Friday into law an 858 billion US dollars bill extending for two years Bush-era tax cuts to boost a fragile economy and add jobs.
Saturday, December 18th 2010 - 03:10 UTC
Argentine population grows 10.6% in a decade, totals 40.09 million

Argentina has 40.09 million inhabitants, up 10.6% from the 2001 figure of 36.2 million, according to preliminary results from the 2010 National Census of Population, Households and Homes released on Friday.
Saturday, December 18th 2010 - 03:05 UTC
Bolivia recognizes Palestine as an independent state with pre-1967 borders

President Evo Morales announced on Friday that Bolivia would recognize Palestine as an independent sovereign state. The Bolivian leader made the statement during the Mercosur summit in Brazil.
Saturday, December 18th 2010 - 00:37 UTC
Recommendation for an online privacy bill of rights to protect web users

The United States government should create an online privacy bill of rights and an enforceable code of conduct for Internet firms handling consumer data and tracking Web users, the U.S. Department of Commerce has recommended.
Saturday, December 18th 2010 - 00:22 UTC
Chilean Senators warn about ‘social impact’ of cheap US dollar for farm areas

Senators representing agricultural parts of Chile strongly criticized the Central Bank and President Sebastian Piñera this week for turning a deaf ear to the “social, cultural and economic problems” created by the falling value of the US dollar, now hovering at 470 pesos to the dollar.
Saturday, December 18th 2010 - 00:11 UTC
Mujica calls on other Latinamerican countries to join Mercosur

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica called on the Mercosur summit for a quick incorporation of Venezuela as full member of the group and said it was time the rest of Latin America moved closer to the integration process.
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.