Stories for October 2009

Friday, October 23rd 2009 - 08:43 UTC
Former Uruguayan military dictator condemned to 25 years in jail

Former Uruguayan military dictator retired General Gregorio Alvarez was condemned this week to 25 years in jail for his involvement in the deaths of leftist activists and repeated violation of human rights during the 1973-85 dictatorship.
Friday, October 23rd 2009 - 08:38 UTC
Uruguay: risk contract with US company to explore for natural gas onshore

Uruguay signed on Friday the first risk contract for the exploration of hydrocarbons in the north of the country, the first ever of its kind. US company Schuepbach Energy from Dallas will be looking for possible traces of natural gas in lutite sedimentary rocks during a two year period in an area of 10.000 square kilometres.
Friday, October 23rd 2009 - 08:27 UTC
Offshore oil exploration in Uruguay to begin next January

Brazil's government managed oil and gas corporation Petrobras and Repsol-YPF have been awarded a contract to explore for natural gas and oil off Uruguay's coast announced the country’s oil firm Ancap.
Thursday, October 22nd 2009 - 20:40 UTC
Tourism Satellite Account a first for the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands Tourist Board this week launched the nation’s first ‘Tourism Satellite Account’ (TSA), a United Nations endorsed international standard for measuring the true economic impact of tourism.
Thursday, October 22nd 2009 - 10:51 UTC
Uruguay’s presidential election next Sunday too tight to call

Uruguay’s coming Sunday presidential election is proving to be more nerve-racking and difficult to forecast than anticipated, with the ruling coalition just a few inches away from repeating in spite of the falling performance of the main opposition candidate.
Thursday, October 22nd 2009 - 08:22 UTC
Lula’s presidential candidate receives support from Brazil’s main party

Brazil’s main political force, Brazilian Democratic Movement, PMDB closed this week a deal with President Lula da Silva to support Minister Dilma Rousseff as the ruling coalition’s presidential candidate for next year’s election.
Thursday, October 22nd 2009 - 08:20 UTC
US dollar slumps to its lowest in 14 months against the Euro, 1.50

The US dollar slumped Wednesday, with the Euro rising above 1.50 for the first time in 14 months, as optimism about the global economic recovery boosted demand for higher yielding currencies.
Thursday, October 22nd 2009 - 08:15 UTC
UK’s second biggest airport, Gatwick sold to US investment fund

Britain's second-biggest airport will have new owners within weeks following a £1.51 billion deal with a US-based investment fund. Gatwick's current operator BAA, heavily criticised for its stewardship of the West Sussex airport, said it had reached an agreement with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
Thursday, October 22nd 2009 - 08:13 UTC
Argentina’s trade surplus contracts 42.8% during September

Argentina's September trade surplus narrowed 42.8% from the same month a year ago, with exports falling even faster than imports, the government said this week. September's 926 million US dollars surplus, which fell short of analysts' expectations, is the smallest since January.
Thursday, October 22nd 2009 - 08:10 UTC
Developed countries recovery “rests on growth in Asia and Latinamerica”

The economic recovery of developed countries, including the United States, rests largely on the growth of developing Asian and Latin American countries, the chief economist of Spanish banking group BBVA said this week.