Stories for August 2009

Saturday, August 15th 2009 - 11:13 UTC
Colombian church confirms talks with FARC rebel leaders

Colombian Cardinal Dario Castrillon confirmed this week that he has talked with the leader of Colombia’s largest rebel group as part of the church’s hierarchy’s effort to mediate an end to the decades-long civil war.
Saturday, August 15th 2009 - 11:07 UTC
Mexico/Uruguay sign strategic association accord and advance trade

Mexico president Felipe Calderón and Uruguay’s Tabare Vazquez signed on Friday in Montevideo a Strategic Association accord to strengthen political dialogue and bilateral trade relations in the framework of the 2004 free trade agreement.
Friday, August 14th 2009 - 14:09 UTC
Paraguayan government withdraws bill for Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation

Paraguay's government withdrew a bill that would approve the incorporation of Venezuela to the Mercosur trade bloc fearing a defeat in Congress that could hurt relations between the two countries.
Friday, August 14th 2009 - 14:05 UTC
IMF allocation for Mercosur countries exceeds 7 billion USD

The IMF allocation of Special Drawing Rights, SDR, equivalent to 250 billion USD to provide liquidity to the global economic system will supplement Mercosur country members with approximately 7 billion US dollars.
Friday, August 14th 2009 - 14:00 UTC
At the end of August IMF injects 250 billion USD to member countries

The International Monetary Fund announced Thursday it would begin to inject 250 billion US dollars into member nations' treasuries to cushion the blows of the global economic crisis. The action is part of a 1.1 trillion US dollar plan agreed by Group of 20 leaders in early April to tackle the global financial and economic crisis.
Friday, August 14th 2009 - 13:51 UTC
Large Antarctic glacier thinning four times faster than ten years ago

One of the largest glaciers in Antarctica is thinning four times faster than it was 10 years ago, according to research seen by the BBC. A study of satellite measurements of Pine Island glacier in west Antarctica reveals the surface of the ice is now dropping at a rate of up to 16m a year.
Friday, August 14th 2009 - 13:47 UTC
Zelaya calls for more US drastic measures against Honduras usurpers

Ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya said he expects the US administration to take more drastic actions against the de facto government of Roberto Micheletti. Zelaya held a three and a half hour meeting on Thursday with Chilean president Michelle Bachelet in Santiago as part of his round of visits to drum support for his reinstatement.
Friday, August 14th 2009 - 09:51 UTC
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

Headlines: Boost for Camp ranks on new RDS advisory group; TV blackout to continue
Friday, August 14th 2009 - 07:43 UTC
Mexico offers to mediate between Colombia and Venezuela and Ecuador

Mexican president Felipe Calderón on an official visit to Colombia offered his country’s mediation in the conflict between Bogotá and neighbouring Ecuador and Venezuela.
Friday, August 14th 2009 - 05:35 UTC
Paraguay’s poverty index forecasted to reach 40% because of recession

After having declined sustainedly during the last few years, Paraguay’s poverty index is forecasted to soar to 40% of the population in 2009 because of the economic recession, said on Thursday Economy minister Dionisio Borda.