Stories for May 22nd 2010

Saturday, May 22nd 2010 - 07:14 UTC
“I’d rather fix the blocks on trade than the bridge pickets”, says Mujica

Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica was ironic Thursday when asked about the current roadblock on the Gualeguaychú-Fray Bentos border-crossing bridge with neighbouring Argentina (in place for over four years now) and asked whether he should “spit Argentina in the eye,” while explaining he is more focused on trade blocks than road blocks.
Saturday, May 22nd 2010 - 07:09 UTC
Mrs Kirchner proud that “God wanted me to be the president of the Bicentenary”

Argentina begun Friday the bicentenary celebrations with the main stage mounted at the feet of the Obelisk in the capital Buenos Aires with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner marking the official launching of the several days events.
Saturday, May 22nd 2010 - 07:02 UTC
Argentine indicators show the economy picking up strongly

Argentina's economy grew at its fastest pace in nearly two years in March, expanding 8.1% from a year earlier as strong industry activity strengthened a recovery, according to government data.
Saturday, May 22nd 2010 - 07:01 UTC
Chinese company buys 40% stake in Brazil offshore field

Norway’s largest oil and natural gas company Statoil ASA, agreed to sell a 40% stake in the Brazilian offshore Peregrino field to China’s Sinochem Group for 3.07 billion US dollars in cash according to a joint release this week.
Saturday, May 22nd 2010 - 02:58 UTC
Falklands’ dispute: Argentina sends diplomatic reply to latest UK note verbale

Argentina’s Deputy Foreign Minister Victorio Tacetti confirmed on Friday there is a formal presentation on the way in reply to the note verbale from the British government to the Argentine presidency in which restrictions applied to all Falklands-Malvinas-bound maritime transit are rejected.
Saturday, May 22nd 2010 - 02:53 UTC
‘Dr. Doom’ Roubini anticipates a ‘double-dip downturn’ and 20% fall in markets

With the Euro-zone crisis renewing fears over another financial crisis, economic pessimists have again regained stage, among them Nouriel Roubini professor at the Stern School of New York University (NYU).
Saturday, May 22nd 2010 - 00:41 UTC
Malaysia 59th country to sign free trade agreement with Chile

This week Malaysia became the 59th country to sign a free trade agreement with Chile. It is the first free trade agreement (FTA) for President Sebastian Piñera's government and it is Malaysia’s first FTA with a Latin American nation.
Saturday, May 22nd 2010 - 00:29 UTC
Ban on bi-valve molluscs extraction along Buenos Aires province coastline

Argentina’s province of Buenos Aires re-confirmed on Friday the total ban of commercial, artisan and/or visitors’ extraction of bi-valve molluscs along the South Atlantic coast of the province.
Saturday, May 22nd 2010 - 00:28 UTC
UN Environment Program questions ‘free market” policies for global fisheries

UN's top environment official has echoed warnings that commercial fishing could be destroyed within 50 years. “It is not a science fiction scenario. It is within the lifetime of a child born today,” said Achim Steiner, head of the UN Environment Program (Unep).
Saturday, May 22nd 2010 - 00:15 UTC
An estimated 26 million tons of fish illegally landed every year, warn researchers

Global measures to regulate the fishing industry lack the capability to tackle illegal catches, warn researchers. Writing in the journal Science, they say that up to 26 million tons of fish, worth an estimated 23 billion USD are landed illegally each year.