Stories for February 2009

Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Paraguayan lawmaker presides over Mercosur Parliament

In the first session of the year the Mercosur Parliament seated in Montevideo, Uruguay, nominated as its pro tempore president the Paraguayan lawmaker Ignacio Mendoza Unzain.
Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil trusts Mercosur for trade problems with Argentina

Brazilian president Lula da Silva admitted this week that trade with Argentina is “facing problems”, but discarded specific measures against Argentine exports adding that any differences between the two countries “will be solved in Mercosur deliberations”.
Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
FAO predicts fall in global cereal crop and hunger threat

Bad weather, violent conflict and volatile market prices could force a drop off in the global production of cereal crops this year, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) predicted Thursday after already warning that some one billion people worldwide are going hungry.
Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
China doubles stake in debt-pressed miner giant Rio Tinto

Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto has announced that China's state-owned Chinalco is to invest a further 19.5 billion US dollars in the business. The move - China's largest investment in a foreign company - could see Chinalco increase its stake in Rio to 18% from the current level of 9%.
Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Bolivia reveals companies' interest in lithium reserves

Four foreign companies are interested in mining lithium in Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest known deposit of that metal, with the aim of producing automobile batteries, a Bolivian government official said this week.
Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Chilean president ignores Cuban political prisoners

Cuban dissidents expressed disappointment that Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is not interested in meeting with them during her official visit to the island, adding that her personal history as victim of political persecution makes the issue even more regretful.
Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina establishes TAC quotas for Patagonian scallop

Argentina's Federal Fisheries Council (CFP) has fixed the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for whole and commercial-sized Patagonian scallops (Zygochlamys patagonica) in a number of Southern Sector Management Units.
Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UK expects “positive role” from CFK at London's G20 summit

Argentine diplomacy is working on plans for President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to address the Falkland Islands sovereignty claim when she travels to London at the beginning of April, for the G-20 summit on the global financial crisis hosted by PM Gordon Brown.
Thursday, February 12th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
UK oil industry warns of low prices effect on production

Industry group Oil & Gas UK said the combination of low oil prices and the freezing of capital markets will have a marked effect on exploration and development activity in the UK over the next 12-18 months.
Wednesday, February 11th 2009 - 20:00 UTC
Mudslide in north Argentina drags away villagers

Nine people were missing Tuesday after a mudslide in northern Argentina that prompted the evacuation of more than 700 people, officials said. The disaster occurred Monday in the town of Tartagal, close to the border with Bolivia.