Stories for March 30th 2009
Indian Ocean dependency votes to become integral part of France
Voters from Mayotte, a tiny island in the Indian Ocean, voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to become and integral part of France, the 101th “departement”. Authorities said 95.2% of those who voted (61% turnout) opted to strengthen ties with Paris which will also require the Muslim majority to abide by French law. Only 4.8% voted no.
Lethal red tide threatens south shores of Chile
Region V health authorities have prohibited the harvest, consumption and sale of all shellfish found between Queilén and Quellon in the Aysén region. The decision was made after water samples showed a concentration of “red tide,” the deadly micro algae Alexandrium catenella, which was ten times the level tolerated by the human system.
Falkland Islands government: “We wish to remain British”
“We wish to remain British and the sovereignty issue is not for negotiation” was the Falkland Islands government statement in response to last Saturday’s meeting in Chile of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
Hundreds of dead Magellanic penguins in southern Chile
Hundreds of dead Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus Magellanicus) have washed ashore in Chile’s Region XI the past several days, the Santiago daily La Tercera reported Sunday. So far experts are in the dark about what’s killing the sea birds, more than 800 of which have been found on the beaches of Las Niñas and Los Piojos near Queule.
Uruguayan farmers showcase for new state of the art combines
Farm equipment manufacturer Case IH chose Uruguay and its local distributor Corporación Global, for the Latinamerican launching of one of its largest and most state of the art combine, the Axial-Flow 8120.
UN economic office calls for risk and market regulation in Latam
The United Nations Economic Commission for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, UNECLC warns that the current global situation is “far more severe” than the depression of the thirties and calls for urgent action in dealing with “risk and market regulation”.
US will no longer “dictate unilaterally”, but Cuban embargo remains
United States Vice President Joe Biden said that Washington would no longer “dictate unilaterally” to Latin America, and that it had entered a new era in the historically troubled relationship.
CEO of GM steps down following suggestions from Obama
The chief executive of struggling US car company General Motors, Rick Wagoner, has agreed to step down. He will leave his post immediately at the request of the White House, a government official confirmed.
Argentina contracts British PR firm to promote the country-brand
The Argentine government has contracted Britain’s Bell Pottinger's international PR division to raise its profile in Europe and the Untied States as a business and tourism hub, according to reports in the Buenos Aires press later confirmed by the company.
UK dampens G-20 expectations and discards further stimulus option
United Kingdom Chancellor Alistair Darling has moved to damp down expectations of a new budget stimulus for the global economy at the G20 summit in London, warning that all the world's problems would not “get sorted in one day”.
