Stories for 2009

Wednesday, October 7th 2009 - 07:49 UTC
Two Argentine “death flights” pilots face long-standing charges

An extradition hearing is expected in Spain this week for one of two pilots arrested recently on charges they participated in “death flights” in which more than 1,000 prisoners were thrown out of planes during Argentina's “dirty war” in the 1970s and 1980s, officials said.
Wednesday, October 7th 2009 - 07:06 UTC
Uruguay has a new air terminal with annual capacity for 3 million pax

Uruguay officially opened this week the country’s new Carrasco international air terminal with a capacity to manage 3 million passengers annually, which makes it operational until 2030.
Wednesday, October 7th 2009 - 07:01 UTC
EU and Uruguay reach agreement on whisky import taxes

European Union closed an investigation into Uruguayan taxing of spirit imports after the country removed “unfair barriers” avoiding a complaint at the World Trade Organization.
Wednesday, October 7th 2009 - 05:53 UTC
Unasur agrees to create a council to combat drugs’ trade

Security ministers from the Union of South American Nations, Unasur, agreed to the creation of a South American Council to Combat Drugs Trafficking, announced Bolivia’s Home Secretary in an official release from La Paz.
Wednesday, October 7th 2009 - 05:46 UTC
The only “problem” for a solution in Honduras is Micheletti, says Lula da Silva

Brazilian President Lula da Silva said Honduras's interim government is illegitimate, and called for de facto president Roberto Micheletti and his administration to step down.
Wednesday, October 7th 2009 - 05:42 UTC
Australia breaks G20 monetary trend and raises main interest to 3.25%

Australia has raised its main interest rate to 3.25% from 3%, becoming the first G20 nation to do so as the global economy begins to recover. The move by its central bank was not unexpected as the Australian economy was the only one in the developed world to expand in the first half of 2009.
Wednesday, October 7th 2009 - 05:38 UTC
France and Arab countries deny ditching the US dollar in oil market

France dismissed on Tuesday as “speculation” a British newspaper report that it was in secret talks with Gulf Arab states, Russia, China and Japan to replace the US dollar with a basket of currencies in trading oil.
Wednesday, October 7th 2009 - 05:17 UTC
Gold soars to new all-time record on fears of financial instability

The price of gold has hit a new all-time high of 1,043.77 US dollars an ounce after a decline in the greenback boosted the attractiveness of metals to investors. Copper prices also rose above 6,000 USD a ton, as the weaker dollar made metals cheaper for non-US investors.
Tuesday, October 6th 2009 - 23:52 UTC
Chile supermarket industry booming: one new store every three days

Chilean supermarket chain owners –mainly Wall-Mart, Cencosud, Unimarc and Supermercados del Sur –are planning the construction of 125 new supermarkets in 2010--an average of one new store every three days. This will be a 12.5% increase to the current 1,003 supermarkets in the country.
Tuesday, October 6th 2009 - 23:31 UTC
Uruguayan farmers planning to plant a record 700.000 hectares of soy beans

Uruguay’s farmland dedicated to soy beans could establish a new expansion record this coming summer: 700.000 hectares. This included the 540.000 currently with wheat and other winter crops.