Stories for July 2008

Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

Headlines: Survey slams tax system; Kids enhance sea front spot; Loligo industry puzzled by protest response; Govt meets with BAS; Kirchner defeated in Senate.
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Hundreds of penguin chicks swept ashore in Rio do Janeiro

Hundreds of baby penguins swept from the icy shores of Antarctica and the South Atlantic are washing up dead on Rio de Janeiro tropical beaches, rescuers and penguin experts said on Friday.
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UN calls for concerted action on food and energy crises

Urgent changes in global agricultural policies are needed to meet the threats of soaring food and energy prices, the United Nations General Assembly President said on Friday.
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Paraguayan economy grows on soy exports and construction

Boosted by agriculture, construction and manufacturing Paraguay's GDP expanded at an annual 7.6% during the first quarter of 2008, according to the latest report from the country's Central Bank. Last year the Paraguayan economy expanded 6.4%.
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Petrobras workers preparing nationwide strike in August

Brazilian offshore oil workers will end a five-day walkout on the original Saturday deadline, but warned they may call a new, nationwide strike against state oil company Petrobras next month. Petrobras issued a statement saying the strike and a later work slowdown by refinery workers had not affected production levels.
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Lula da Silva praises strength and speed of regional integration

South American integration is “advancing fast and with our own resources” said Brazilian president Lula da Silva on Friday during a regional summit in Amazonia with the presidents of Bolivia and Venezuela
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Spain supports re-Argentinization of Aerolíneas & Austral

Spanish vice president Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega described on Friday the agreement by which Argentina regains control of flag air carrier Aerolineas Argentinas as “satisfactory”.
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Mrs. Kirchner cancels export tax; farmers' conflict “is over”

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner administration canceled the widely protested farm export tax hike on Friday following four long months of protest and a stunning rejection by the Senate. First reactions from farmers was that the “conflict is over”.
Friday, July 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
The Economist warns of 3 years of lame-duck presidency

Under the heading of “Losing friends fast” The Economist refers to the milestone last 48 hours in Argentina and concludes that if President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner does not learn fast from her mistakes, “she may go down as one of the longest-serving lame ducks in recent democratic history”.
Thursday, July 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Mercosur and EU planning post-Doha trade negotiations

Mercosur and the European Union could resume trade talks in two months time because “we're interested in having an open discussion next September or October” according to the EU commissioner for Latinamerica Stefano Saninno who this week visited Buenos Aires.