Stories for August 2009

Monday, August 10th 2009 - 11:41 UTC
Chile leads in wine exports but Argentina catching up in quality and growth rate

The average price of an exported bottle of wine from Argentina has exceeded a Chilean bottle for the first time, according to recently released Wines of Chile figures. The report also revealed that Chile's wine exports fell 4.4% between January and June 2009, compared to the same time last year.
Monday, August 10th 2009 - 11:37 UTC
South America agrees on price ceilings for the A/H1N1 vaccine

South America's twelve nations on Saturday pledged to respect regional vaccine price ceilings to prevent businesses from exploiting fear of the A/H1N1 flu pandemic, Ecuador's Health Minister Caroline Chang said.
Monday, August 10th 2009 - 11:31 UTC
Don’t forget UK troops in Falklands, says Conservative MP

United Kingdom Defence chiefs should not let the war in Afghanistan distract them from the needs of other British soldiers around the world such as the Falkland Islands, warns a Tory MP.
Monday, August 10th 2009 - 11:25 UTC
Lloyds Banking Group considering how to limit government stake

The UK part-nationalised Lloyds Banking Group may raise billions of pounds from shareholders to reduce its reliance on the taxpayer, it has been reported. The bank - which is 43% state-owned - is considering the move to avoid the £16 billion cost of placing billions in toxic debts into a taxpayer-backed insurance scheme, the Sunday Times reports.
Monday, August 10th 2009 - 11:09 UTC
Unasur summit faces charged agenda of controversial issues

An “ethics responsibly” clause for the media and a strong criticism of the current financial architecture in South America and the global crisis are two controversial issues added to the already charged agenda of the Unasur summit which opens Monday in Quito, Ecuador.
Monday, August 10th 2009 - 11:02 UTC
Bidders have no plans to close plants or drop the Vauxhall brand

One of the last two bidders in the running to buy Britain’s Vauxhall car maker has said it has no plans to close its two UK plants or drop the brand. Belgian investment group RHJ International is vying with Canadian firm Magna International to buy the European arm of ailing General Motors, which owns Germany's Opel as well as Vauxhall.
Monday, August 10th 2009 - 11:01 UTC
Honduras interim rulers reject visit from OAS high-level delegation

The interim government of Honduras has said it will not allow a high-level delegation from the Organisation of American States to visit for talks. It said OAS chief Jose Miguel Insulza would not be an impartial observer.
Saturday, August 8th 2009 - 14:17 UTC
Obama denies the US plans to set military bases in Colombia

President Barack Obama joined Friday a controversy boiling in South America by denying the United States is planning to set up military bases in Colombia as part of an upgraded security agreement with Bogotá. “There have been those in the region who have been trying to play this up as part of a traditional anti-Yankee rhetoric. This is not accurate,” Obama told Hispanic media reporters.
Saturday, August 8th 2009 - 14:10 UTC
Uruguay’s flag carrier plans to fly Santiago de Chile/Punta Arenas

A third operator could be joining Lan and Sky Airline in cargo and passenger traffic between Santiago de Chile and Punta Arenas, according to an official request presented before Chile’s Civil Aeronautics Agency last July 24, reports La Prensa Austral.
Saturday, August 8th 2009 - 14:03 UTC
Unasur summit to address the Colombia-US forces controversy

The Union of South American Nations, UNASUR will debate the creation of four ministerial councils on narcotics-traffic, infrastructure, culture and education and social development during the summit hosted by Ecuador which begins next Monday.