Stories for August 4th 2009
Chavez condemns attack on television station as “counter revolutionary”
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez confirmed Tuesday that one of her militants Lina Ron was under arrest for having been involved in the Monday attack on the Globovision television station, an action which he also condemned.
Spider crab season kicks off in Punta Arenas; target 2.300 tons
The first boatloads of Magellan spider crabs (king crab) arrived in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile, late last week, marking the commencement of the 2009 spider crab season and the end of the National Fishing Service’s six month ban on hunting the prized crustaceans.
Strengthening international cooperation is the main challenge of Antarctic meeting
With the challenge of strengthening international cooperation for development of Antarctic science, the XXI Annual Meeting of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) started yesterday. COMNAP is one of the most important forums of the Antarctic Treaty System.
Chile to invest 180 million USD in tourism infrastructure
In a nod to the luxury cruiser industry, Chile’s government says it will invest more than 180 million US dollars to improve and expand tourism infrastructure to convince foreign travellers to visit the country.
Argentina pays bond and seeks to return to global capital markets
Argentina paid creditors a total of 2.25 billion dollars on government-issued debt Monday, as it sought to shed the last vestiges of its 2001 default and return to the financial mainstream. Economy Minister Amado Boudou said the payment, or coupon, had been made to holders of dollar-denominated Boden 2012 bonds -- meeting a debt obligation that aims to boost confidence.
Uribe tours South America to explain US bases in Colombia
A plan to increase the number of US troops in Colombia is drawing opposition, not just from left-wing populist leaders in the region but also from moderate governments prompting President Alvaro Uribe to tour the region and try to ease concerns.
US July Ford, Subaru and Hyundai sales up; GM Chrysler down
United States vehicle sales were mixed in July, with Ford seeing sales rise compared to a year earlier while both Chrysler and GM posted a fall. Asian car manufacturers also saw varied US sales, with Subaru and Hyundai sales up while Honda and Toyota both posted falls year-on-year.
Opinion polls anticipate Uruguayan presidential election with run-off
The coming Uruguayan presidential election scheduled for October will be decided in a run off at the end of November according to the tendencies of the latest public opinion poll released Monday in Montevideo.
Count down for Lula da Silva’s key congressional ally
Brazilian Senate President Jose Sarney, a key ally of President Lula da Silva, may be forced to resign amid allegations he used his position to win government jobs and contracts for relatives. Senators from parties backing President Lula da Silva joined by members from the opposition are increasing pressure on Sarney to step down.
Thousands of “eclipse tourists” expected to flock to Easter Island in July 2010
Thousands of visitors are set to fly to Chile’s Easter Island to view the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century scheduled for July 11, 2010. But Easter Island inhabitants warn the tiny isle cannot accommodate so many people.
