Stories for August 2008

Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
“Bye, Bye Mercosur” promises Uruguayan presidential hopeful

One of the Uruguayan leading opposition presidential hopefuls questioned once again the attitude of Mercosur senior members (Argentina and Brazil) in trade issues adding that the reiterated presence of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez only confirms that the South American trade block has become increasingly and predominantly “political”.
Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Frozen fish narcotics export ring busted in Montevideo port

Uruguay's fishing industry has come under the spotlight of the Montevideo and Spanish police narcotics departments following the arrest of a Spanish citizen and the discovery of containers to be exported with 300 kilos of cocaine hidden among the frozen fish.
Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
NY prosecutors make banks repay billions for misselling

New York State's attorney general has threatened to sue Merrill Lynch for misrepresenting certain debt investments as safer than they were. Andrew Cuomo said that legal action against the US bank was “imminent” after it failed to settle charges of mis-selling with regulators.
Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentine economy suffering “fatigue”, admits government

The Argentine economy seems to be suffering of “fatigue” according to the latest official reports and which had been anticipated by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner earlier in the week.
Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Uruguay's meat exports in seven months: 983 m. USD

During the first seven months of this year Uruguay meat exports totaled 983 million US dollars, 54% higher than the same period in 2007, of which beef represents 84% and lamb 4%, according to the country's Nacional Institute of Meats, INAC.
Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chile: dioxin traces quarantines four more pork factories

Chile's Health Ministry quarantined four more pork factories last Thursday after Canadian health officials confirmed high levels of the carcinogenic chemical dioxin in their pork meat products.
Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Japanese economy sliding downwards to recession

The Japanese economy contracted by 0.6% between April and June, prompting fears that it is sliding towards recession. Declining exports and consumer demand were behind the fall - the first for more than a year - which came after a rise of 0.8% in the previous quarter.
Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
“Fire-safe” cigarettes mandatory in the EU as of 2011

As of 2011 all cigarettes sold in the European Union will have to be self-extinguishing in a bid to combat thousands of fire-related deaths and injuries. EC officials said a meeting of experts from all 27 EU member states was expected to endorse proposals by Consumer Protection Commissioner Meglena Kuneva.
Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Russian tycoon pays 300 million Euros for French Riviera villa

Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov paid 300 million Euros for a villa in the French Riviera built in 1902, so grand that it takes a reputed 50 gardeners to tend its gardens, according to the Paris daily Le Monde.
Saturday, August 16th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Full scale military exercise to defend Brazil's offshore oil

Brazil announced Friday it will hold military exercises next month to show its capability of defending new offshore oil reserves that could convert the country into a global energy player.