Stories for August 2008

Monday, August 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
BHP Billiton: record profits and upbeat about commodities

BHP Billiton Ltd. which is the world's largest mining company has reported a record annual net profit for the year ended June 30 of 15.39 billion US dollars, up 14.7% from the 13.42 billion of the previous year.
Monday, August 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Falklands' war carrier, under Indian flag, returns to Atlantic

The Indian Navy only aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, the former Falkland Islands war veteran HMS Hermes and a flotilla of other men-o-war are scheduled to participate for the first time ever in war games with the British and French navies in the Atlantic Ocean early next year.
Monday, August 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Unanimous vote for Chile's coastline whale sanctuary

Chile's Chamber of Deputies voted unanimously last week to declare the country's coastline a whale sanctuary. The vote is a major step in protecting whales from hunting in Chilean waters – 200 miles from the coast, along the entire length of the country.
Monday, August 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
June trade figures confirm EU economy slowing down

The trade deficit of the 15-nation Euro zone shrank sharply in June to 101 million Euros, but failed to meet forecasts, according to data released Monday by Eurostat.
Monday, August 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Greenpeace dumps boulders in North Sea to prevent trawling

Greenpeace has sailed into a mini-storm of annoyed marine biologists after dropping massive granite boulders into the North Sea in an attempt to disrupt fishing. Last week the ship the Beluga II began dropping the first of 150 granite rocks weighing 2 to 3 tonnes onto the seabed.
Monday, August 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentine/Chilean celebration of 1978 Pope peace mediation

Argentine ambassador in Chile Luis Maira confirmed before Chilean Congress the visit of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner next November to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the 1978 peace mediation brokered by the Vatican which impeded a full fledged war.
Monday, August 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Who pays for port expansion to dock larger cruise vessels?

As the cruise industry keeps advancing and vessels become larger a controversy has erupted in Punta Arenas as to who should pick the bill for the expansion of port facilities both for docking and landing tourists.
Monday, August 18th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
The Brazilian economy and the dividends of stability

Brazil's Central Bank president Henrique Meirelles was the guest this week of the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce in New York, where he talked about the Brazilian economy, prospects followed by a period of questions and answers.

Brazil is the largest economy of Latinamerica, the senior member of Mercosur, has a respected voice in world affairs and since the turn of the millennium has become one of the most promising emerging economies belonging to the so called BRIC group, Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Follows a summary of this conference written by Denise Karin Johnsson
Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
New Paraguay president Lugo meets with poor

Paraguay's new leftist president returned Saturday to the province where he spent 11 years as bishop, and pledged to raise living standards by eradicating poverty and corruption in one of South America's poorest nations.
Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Obama plans to visit Mexico, Brazil and Chile before election

Chile, Brazil and Mexico are among the countries which could be visited by United States presidential candidate Barack Obama before the November election, following on recommendations for a Latinamerican tour from his political advisors.