Stories for May 23rd 2008

Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chile Bachelet's State of the Nation speech energy laden

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet chimed into the national energy debate Wednesday, using her annual May 21 State of the Nation speech to downplay the country's current electricity scarcity – which she described as “transitory” – and to plug the continued use of Chile's waterways for hydroelectric generation.
Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
FAO forecasts higher harvest volumes but still insufficient

High food prices have particularly hit vulnerable populations in many countries that spend a substantial part of their income on food, according to a report released Thursday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.
Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Cristina Kirchner's support plummets 30 points since January

The protracted conflict with the farmers and growing inflation demolished in two months the support for Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner according to the latest public opinion poll from the consultants Poliarquía released on Thursday.
Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Extinction threat for 21 shark and 11 ray species

The first study to determine the global status of 21 species of oceanic pelagic sharks and rays reveals that 11 of them are threatened with extinction, says IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) on International Biodiversity Day.
Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Overflowed rivers leave Santiago short of drinking water

Vast areas of metropolitan Santiago de Chile have no water or in short supply forcing education authorities to close schools, government and private.
Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Frustrated Argentine farmers promise great Sunday rally

While Argentine government officials expressed “optimism”, following the Thursday meeting with camp representatives to discuss tax policies, farmers said they were “let down” and “feel frustrated” by the government's attitude of delaying proposals and discussions.
Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update

Headlines: Landings commemorated at Blue Beach; Popular teenager killed in road accident; Governor applies for drug duo's deportation; May Ball tonight; Budget session looms.
Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Conservatives take their first by-election since 1982

Britain's Conservative leader David Cameron says their first by-election gain since 1982 marks “the end of New Labour”. Mr Cameron told cheering supporters in Crewe and Nantwich that Labour had run a negative, xenophobic and class war campaign that “completely backfired”.
Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Dengue epidemic in Rio easing but 10.635 cases in May

The dengue epidemic in the Brazilian state and city of Rio do Janeiro added another 10.635 cases last week and totaled 110 deaths since the beginning of the year according to the latest report from the city's sanitary authorities.
Friday, May 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Santiago emergency: schools closed and short on drinking water

Santiago de Chile's mayor Alvaro Erazo criticized on Friday water supplier Aguas Andinas for having left the south side of the city without drinking water following on heavy storms that flooded many of Chile's capital main canals and drainage system.