Stories for February 15th 2007

Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Chile to take Argentina to WTO over agriculture subsidies

Chile announced early this week that it would file a new lawsuit against Argentina before the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the country's use of agricultural subsidies. The pending lawsuit would further strain relations between the two southern cone neighbors, as Argentina has already has filed two lawsuits against Chile before the WTO
Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Four dead, 25 intoxicated in jigger accident in Montevideo

Four crew members killed and 25 intoxicated including rescue workers was the final toll of an ammoniac escape/explosion on board a Korean jigger moored at the port of Montevideo.
Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Slow beginning for Argentine squid season

Argentine short fin squid (Illex argentinus) catches within the Argentine EEZ since the start of the season on February 1 are rather erratic and not very encouraging. Until last week only eight jiggers were operating in the area reports Pesca & Puertos website.
Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil's primary surplus planned to drop to 3.75% of GDP

Brazil posted a 4.32% of GDP primary surplus in 2006 compared to 4.83% in 2005 revealed the country's Central Bank. The savings are equivalent to 41 billion US dollars.
Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Buenos Aires province licenses 50 fishing vessels

A total 50 vessels, less than 28 meters long, for the first time have been licensed to catch off the bay of Samborombón, an area the province of Buenos Aires government claims to be under its jurisdiction based on the Uruguay/Argentina River Plate maritime agreement.
Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil-Bolivia agree higher gas price for supply security

Brazil will pay about 11% more for natural gas from Bolivia under a deal presidents Lula da Silva and Evo Morales signed Thursday in Brazil and that could resolve a year of tense relations between the South American nations.
Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
EU Parliament votes against diverting farm subsidies

A European Commission proposal that would have allowed Member States to divert some Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct farm payments to rural development spending was almost unanimously rejected by the European Parliament with 89 votes in favour, 584 votes against and 19 abstentions. The Commission must now decide if it will withdrawal the proposal.
Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
United Nations launches new radiation warning symbol

A skull and crossbones, a running person and radiating ionizing waves, all on a deep red triangle, joined other more common warning symbols today as part of a United Nations effort to reduce needless deaths and serious injuries from accidental exposure to large radioactive sources such as food irradiation and cancer therapy equipment.
Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Warm reception in Stanley for Argentine Chevening Scholars group

Media interest in the 25th anniversary of the Falklands/Malvinas War is currently mounting in both hemispheres and on both sides of the sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina.
Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
“Chile and Peru should settle border issue by dialogue”

Organization of American States (OAS) head José Miguel Insulza said that Chile and Peru should settle their differences over a recent border conflict via dialogue. At a visit to Lima for a meeting of Latin American countries involved in the peacekeeping process in Haiti, Insulza warned of the presence of radical sectors, or “hawks,” wishing to upset relations between the two countries.