Stories for September 1st 2008
Hurricane Gustav: Fears over damage to US oil rigs
With Hurricane Gustav on course to hit the US Gulf of Mexico coast, the damage it does to the region's oil facilities could be a “worst case scenario”.
Argentina: Sector profits squeezed by rising costs
Rising fuel prices, tax and wage increases, and market instability in terms of the future has stoked great concern and uncertaintly among those involved in the national fishing sector.
New Orleans: Ghost town awaits Hurricane Gustav
Hurricane Gustav began to lash the southern Louisiana coastline early Monday as it moved closer to an expected midday landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
Bolivia's Morales visit Libya and Iran for energy cooperation
Evo Morales, Bolivia's anti-Washington president, has arrived in Tehran on his first official visit to the Islamic Republic.
Pte Chávez Threatens to Expel American Ambassador
Fuming over assertions by American officials that cocaine smuggling through Venezuela has surged in recent years, President Hugo Chávez threatened the American ambassador with expulsion on Sunday, opening a new phase of tension between Venezuela and the United States.
Deforestation rises sharply as farmers push into Amazon
Concerns over the destruction of the Brazilian rainforest resurfaced at the weekend after it emerged that deforestation jumped by 64% over the last 12 months, according to official government data.
Uruguay South Korea sign wide ranging fisheries agreement
Uruguay and South Korea have agreed on a fisheries pact that will facilitate greater cooperation in the development of marine resources, announced the South Korean Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Argentine farmers resume protest and march on Congress
After the four-month conflict with the Argentine government over the hike in grains and oilseeds export duties, farmers began protesting again last week in the interior of the country demanding an end to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner administration's inaction.
Argentina to present Antarctic and insular sea bed claims
Argentina will be making a formal presentation before United Nations claiming Antarctic sea bed sometime in early 2009 it was announced this weekend in Buenos Aires. The issue is back in the headlines following the UK's claim presentation involving St Helena and Ascension islands in the mid Atlantic.
Wall Street back steps on the risks of an Argentine default
Wall Street investment banks downplayed the risks of an Argentine default even with lower soy prices, a slowing down of the economy and soaring inflation. The announcement from Morgan Stanley, UBS and Barclays Capital follows weeks of speculation that Argentina was technically on the verge of another financial disaster.
