Stories for July 23rd 2008
Venezuela offers Russia strategic alliance against US
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has called for a strategic alliance with Russia to protect his country from United States. Chavez call came as Moscow and Caracas agreed to extend bilateral co-operation on energy.
Over 11 million Argentines live in poverty or indigence
Rising inflation in the first half of 2008 has meant that 11.3 million Argentines are poor, of which 3.9 million indigent, a significant increase over the previous six months according to a report from a private consultants firm released on Tuesday.
Change in Argentine cabinet: new Agriculture secretary
Argentina's new Agriculture Secretary takes the oath of office on Wednesday. Carlos Cheppi replaces Javier de Urquiza one of the first victims of the four month long stand off between the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and the protesting farmers.
Chile joins Latam whale and dolphin watching tourism
Whales and dolphins are making the tourism market boom, particularly in Chile, where tourism is becoming a key factor of Chile's economic development strategy. More than one million tourists enjoyed viewing cetacean species in Latin America this past year, industry sources report.
European & Canadian cities have best quality of living
European cities dominate the worldwide rankings of locations with the best quality of living, according to Mercer's 2008 Quality of Living survey. Zurich retains its 2007 title as the highest ranked city followed jointly by Vienna (2), Geneva (2), then Vancouver (4) and Auckland (5).
South American cities with serious personal safety problems
South American cities do not rank favorably with Mercer's highest personal safety ranking based on internal stability, crime, effectiveness of law enforcement and relationships with other countries.
Argentine fisheries landings down 7% in first half of 2008
Argentine fisheries landings in the first half of 2008 totaled 536.075 tons, which is 7% less that the 574.000 tons of the same period last year. Fish and mollusks dropped 6% and crustaceans 26% between 2008 and 2007, according to the latest release from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Deputy Secretariat.
US dollar close to medium-term equilibrium says IMF
The Euro is overvalued, while the US dollar's decline has brought it closer to its medium-term equilibrium in a decade, according to a top official from the International Monetary Fund.
Bushconomics: “Wall Street got drunk and now has a hangover”
President George W Bush has explained the credit crunch savaging United States financial markets by saying “Wall Street got drunk”.
Gas from coal to fuel methanol plant in extreme south Chile
Canada's Methanex, the world's main producer of methanol, is planning to convert coal into natural gas to supply its huge complex in the extreme south of Chile which has been working below capacity precisely because of insufficient gas, said the corporation's CEO Bruce Aitken.
