Stories for August 2009

Friday, August 28th 2009 - 19:59 UTC
Brazilian general questions Lula da Silva’ stance on the Amazon

The Brazilian government magnified the importance of the deployment of US troops in Colombian military bases, according to Brazilian retired Army general Luiz Eduardo Rocha Paiva who is also a lecturer in strategic affairs.
Friday, August 28th 2009 - 19:50 UTC
Falkland Islands: Flights dispute in limbo as diplomatic talks continue

FALKLANDS, UK and Argentine diplomats today remain locked in sensitive discussions as the latest dispute over the next of kin flights enters its second week.
Friday, August 28th 2009 - 19:48 UTC
Spanish economy keeps contracting in the second quarter: down 1.1%

The Spanish economy shrunk more than expected in the second quarter in contrast with signs of recovery in France and Germany, according to the latest release from the Statistics Institute. Second quarter GDP contracted 1.1% quarter-on-quarter, a slight improvement on the first quarter when the economy shrunk 1.6%, mostly due to a hefty state stimulus spending plan.
Friday, August 28th 2009 - 19:45 UTC
Number of problem US banks the highest in 15 years

The number of problem US banks rose to the highest level in 15 years between April and June, the industry's regulator has revealed. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) said 416 banks had failed its test criteria during the quarter, up 111 from January to March.
It added that 81 US banks had now been forced to close this year.
Friday, August 28th 2009 - 19:42 UTC
Poultry connection strengthens global H1N1 flu pandemic, says FAO

The detection of an H1N1 virus in turkeys in Chile raises concern that poultry farms elsewhere in the world could also become infected with the pandemic flu virus currently circulating in humans, FAO said Thursday.
Friday, August 28th 2009 - 19:38 UTC
Colombia and Venezuela raise the stakes for the Unasur summit

Colombia reiterated its willingness to an open discussion on the deployment of US forces in Colombian bases but also wants Venezuela to adopt a similar attitude regarding its arms, armament and alliance policies.
Friday, August 28th 2009 - 19:32 UTC
Baby boom in Britain pushes population over the 61 million mark

Britain is in the midst of a baby boom, helping push the population over the 61 million mark for the first time. More than three quarters of a million children were born in the UK last year, as fertility rates hit their highest levels in a generation.
Friday, August 28th 2009 - 19:29 UTC
Lula da Silva and Sarney promise quick approval of Itaipú accord

Brazilian president Lula da Silva and the head of the Senate Jose Sarney promised a delegation of visiting Paraguayan lawmakers that the Itaipú dam accord reached last July will receive congressional approval as soon as possible.
Friday, August 28th 2009 - 04:13 UTC
Advance party of Argentine Families holding talks in Falklands

Members of the Argentine Families' Commission arrived in the Falkland Islands Wednesday to carry out a scoping visit in preparation for the Next of Kin visits which are due to take place in October for the official inauguration of the Memorial at the Argentine cemetery.
Thursday, August 27th 2009 - 16:23 UTC
AF 447: Brazil families demand crash probe

Relatives of Brazilian victims of the Air France crash in the mid-Atlantic earlier this year have called for a criminal investigation to be opened into the incident.