Stories for June 2009

Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 - 04:21 UTC
Chile breakthrough in (Asian nori) algae cultivation

Scientists of Chile’s Universidad Católica (UC) have discovered several varieties of the algae Porphyra in Chile. The Department of Ecology at UC has been studying the details of the reproductive cycle of the algae in order to replicate it in the lab
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 - 04:15 UTC
China steelmakers demand “40% or more” cut in iron ore prices

China's Iron and Steel Association, CISA, maintained its campaign to slash 2009-2010 iron ore term prices by 40% or more, putting out a report on its Web site Sunday that rounded up opinions from a string of Chinese mill executives.
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 - 04:11 UTC
End of an era for US auto industry: GM files for protection

Car giant General Motors (GM) has filed for bankruptcy protection, marking the biggest failure of an industrial company in US history. The widely expected move comes after GM had seen its losses widen following a steep fall in sales in recent years.
Monday, June 1st 2009 - 20:54 UTC
Airbus confirm that an A330-200 operated by Air France has been lost

An Air France plane flying from Brazil to Paris has gone missing with 228 people on board, the airline informed today.
Monday, June 1st 2009 - 13:38 UTC
Mercosur remains strategic for Uruguay and must be “strengthened”

Uruguay will emphasize the need to “strengthen” Mercosur given the global context and the current weakness of the group’s cohesion said the country’s head of the Economic, Integration and Mercosur affairs office at the foreign relations ministry. However the current political environment does not seem to be the most appropriate.
Monday, June 1st 2009 - 13:33 UTC
Brazilian beef industry blamed for Amazon deforestation

Boots and training shoes are not the first things that spring to mind when you think about the causes of rainforest destruction and climate change, but just because the connection isn't obvious doesn't mean it isn't realm, says Greenpeace in a new report, “Slaughtering the Amazon”.
Monday, June 1st 2009 - 13:28 UTC
Uruguay optimistic about tourism industry prospects

Uruguay’s Tourism minister is optimistic about the evolution of the industry and forecasts 2009 will be a better year in US dollars, than 2008. In spite of the global slowdown and the influenza scare the flow of visitors to Uruguay remains steady and is expected to improve 5% over last year.
Monday, June 1st 2009 - 13:22 UTC
Ecuador’s Correa forecasts the end of OAS and promotes the Group of Rio

Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa said the Organization of American States, OAS, has “no longer a reason to exist” and forecasted it will be replaced by the Group of Rio, arguing it was time that Latinamerican issues ceased to be discussed in Washington.
Monday, June 1st 2009 - 13:17 UTC
Iran/Israel conflict also present at the OAS meeting in Honduras

Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister will attend the annual general assembly of the Organization of American States this week in Honduras in an attempt to counter Iran's growing influence in Latinamerica, according to Israel diplomatic sources.
Monday, June 1st 2009 - 09:02 UTC
OAS calls for a political solution to Colombian internal conflict

The Organization of American States Secretary General said the Colombian internal conflict should move towards a negotiated political solution, and offered to contribute to the peace efforts.