Stories for May 15th 2008

Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US lists polar bears as threatened species, with a loophole

The United States has listed the polar bear as a threatened species, because its Arctic sea ice habitat is melting due to climate change. US government scientists predict that two-thirds of the polar bear population of 25,000 could disappear by 2050. However, the government stressed the listing would not lead to measures to prevent global warming.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Uruguayan exporters' gruel government's economic policies

Uruguay's economic team defended the current government's policies and denied any loss of competitiveness, increased government expenditure or inflation out of control. However the Uruguayan business community was not entirely convinced with the arguments and complained about the inefficiency and high costs of energy and fuel provided by government monopolies.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Uruguayan made Chinese cars export to Argentina

In thirty days time Chery-Socma Uruguay, a Chinese, Argentine Uruguayan consortium will be making its first export of Uruguayan assembled cars to Argentina. The announcement was made during a visit this week to the plant by Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez and Hui Liangyu, China's Deputy Primer Minister.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Record soybean crop in Paraguay: 6.8 million tons

Paraguay's soy bean 2007/08 crop is expected to reach a record 6.8 million tons helped by good yields and an expansion of the area planted according to the country's soy exporters chamber.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil's ready to increase interest rates to contain inflation

Brazil's Central bank chairman Enrique Meirelles said this week that the bank is ready to cap pressure on prices with the purpose of keeping inflation under control even when this could impact on the strong economic growth of the economy.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
EU and Mercosur address trade accord in Peru

Negotiations for an association, trade and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Mercosur are in stand by waiting for results from the World Trade Organization, Doha round, said the European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Farmers' conflict begins to impact growth indexes

The Argentine economy expanded at an annual 7.9% in April closing the first four months of 2008 with at an annual growth rate of 7.5%. This would be the sixth year running that the Argentine economy has been expanding vigorously after five years averaging 8.5%.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chavez after better US relations with Bush's successor

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez said he hopes relations with the United States will improve substantially when the “devil” and “Mr Danger” President George W. Bush leaves the Oval Office in January.
Thursday, May 15th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina rates 103 out of 190 countries in institutional quality

Long obsessed with its image in the eyes of such international monitors as the United Nations Human Development Index or Transparency International, Argentina has had its own international Institutional Quality Index for the past two years.