Stories for May 17th 2009

Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 13:26 UTC
Peru army to quell Amazon protests

The government “authorises for 30 days the intervention of the armed forces to ensure the continued functioning of essential services in select districts” of the Amazon rainforest region, a statement from the ministry of defence said on Saturday.
Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 13:12 UTC
Private sector economists say Argentina is in recession

Argentina's industrial production in April plunged 9.1% on the year, economic think tank Orlando J Ferreres & Asociados reported this week. The April drop follows a 9% decline during the first quarter of 2009 and a 5.6% drop during the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the report.
Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 13:06 UTC
Chavez promises to combat the “terrorist” press of Venezuela

Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez anticipated that the “terrorist” media of his country will face the full consequences of the law for their insistence in allegedly manipulating, misleading or fabricating the president’s statements.
Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 12:58 UTC
To school for reading classes with Karl Marx and Che Guevara

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez approved last week a list of books for schools to educate young people on Socialist ideology and the Bolivarian revolution, reported the Caracas press.
Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 12:55 UTC
Uruguay scraps rules banning homosexuals from armed forces

This week Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez announced that his government will “allow gays to join the armed forces” by scrapping military rules that define homosexuality as a disorder”.
Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 12:52 UTC
Uruguayan rice crop with record yield of 8.012 kilos per hectare

Uruguay’s rice 2009 crop is estimated in 1.3 million tons and although the area planted was 4.5% less that in 2008, yield is a record 8.012 kilos per hectare, according to the latest release from the Agriculture Statistics Department, DIEA.
Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 12:51 UTC
Labour voters support equals that of UK Independent Party, 17%

The ruling Labour slumped to be neck and neck with the United Kingdom Independence Party in a poll as voters looked set to punish mainstream parties over the expenses scandal at the ballot box next month.
Sunday, May 17th 2009 - 12:45 UTC
UK to complain Spanish Navy incursion in Gibraltar’s territorial waters

Britain will formally complain to Spain about the recent incursion by a Spanish Navy patrol boat into Gibraltar's territorial waters. The fisheries protection vessel 'Tarifa' entered British waters and deployed a small speedboat to carry out checks on Spanish fishermen off the east side of the Rock, reports The Gibraltar Chronicle.