Stories for June 1st 2009
China and U.S. seal economic and financial “partnership”
In his first official visit to China since becoming Treasury Secretary, Mr Geithner told politicians and academics in Beijing that he still supports a strong US dollar, and insisted that the trillions of dollars of Chinese investments would not be unduly damaged by the economic crisis.
Labour with 18% support trail Tories by 22 points, says poll
Support for the Britain’s ruling Labour party has plunged by 10 points in the past month and the party now trails the Tories by 22% and is running neck and neck with the Liberal Democrats, according to a new poll.
Chile breakthrough in (Asian nori) algae cultivation
Scientists of Chile’s Universidad Católica (UC) have discovered several varieties of the algae Porphyra in Chile. The Department of Ecology at UC has been studying the details of the reproductive cycle of the algae in order to replicate it in the lab
China steelmakers demand “40% or more” cut in iron ore prices
China's Iron and Steel Association, CISA, maintained its campaign to slash 2009-2010 iron ore term prices by 40% or more, putting out a report on its Web site Sunday that rounded up opinions from a string of Chinese mill executives.
End of an era for US auto industry: GM files for protection
Car giant General Motors (GM) has filed for bankruptcy protection, marking the biggest failure of an industrial company in US history. The widely expected move comes after GM had seen its losses widen following a steep fall in sales in recent years.
Airbus confirm that an A330-200 operated by Air France has been lost
An Air France plane flying from Brazil to Paris has gone missing with 228 people on board, the airline informed today.
Mercosur remains strategic for Uruguay and must be “strengthened”
Uruguay will emphasize the need to “strengthen” Mercosur given the global context and the current weakness of the group’s cohesion said the country’s head of the Economic, Integration and Mercosur affairs office at the foreign relations ministry. However the current political environment does not seem to be the most appropriate.
Brazilian beef industry blamed for Amazon deforestation
Boots and training shoes are not the first things that spring to mind when you think about the causes of rainforest destruction and climate change, but just because the connection isn't obvious doesn't mean it isn't realm, says Greenpeace in a new report, “Slaughtering the Amazon”.
Uruguay optimistic about tourism industry prospects
Uruguay’s Tourism minister is optimistic about the evolution of the industry and forecasts 2009 will be a better year in US dollars, than 2008. In spite of the global slowdown and the influenza scare the flow of visitors to Uruguay remains steady and is expected to improve 5% over last year.
Ecuador’s Correa forecasts the end of OAS and promotes the Group of Rio
Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa said the Organization of American States, OAS, has “no longer a reason to exist” and forecasted it will be replaced by the Group of Rio, arguing it was time that Latinamerican issues ceased to be discussed in Washington.
