Stories for August 4th 2010

Wednesday, August 4th 2010 - 23:31 UTC
Mercosur reminds Paraguay of “quick conclusion” to Venezuela’s incorporation

Mercosur presidents, meeting in Argentina, called for a “quick conclusion” of Venezuela’s incorporation process to the block which remains stalled at the Paraguayan congress.
Wednesday, August 4th 2010 - 22:08 UTC
Venezuela’s oil corporation profits plummet because of “•global capitalist crisis”

State-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA earnings reached 4.49 billion US dollars in 2009, down from 9.41 billion in 2008, Energy and Petroleum Minister Rafael Ramirez revealed this week. Speaking at PDVSA headquarters in Caracas, he cited the “global capitalist crisis” as a major factor in the sharp fall in net income.
Wednesday, August 4th 2010 - 22:00 UTC
Brazil ready for first television clash between Dilma Rousseff and Serra

Brazil’s main presidential candidates will be holding their first televised debate Thursday evening less than two months to voting day October 3. The debate has been organized by Bandeirantes Television and will also include two other candidates with lesser chance, so all eyes will be set on incumbent Dilma Rousseff and opposition leader Jose Serra
Wednesday, August 4th 2010 - 21:57 UTC
Santander takes over 318 branches from Royal Bank of Scotland

Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to sell 318 branches to Santander for a premium of £350 million on the assets' value. The sale includes 311 RBS-branded branches in England and Wales, and seven NatWest branches in Scotland.
Wednesday, August 4th 2010 - 21:55 UTC
Released Cuban dissident arrives in Chile as political refuge

One of the 20 released Cuban political prisoners who arrived in Spain last month left on Tuesday to settle in Chile. Jose Ubaldo Izquierdo Hernandez, 44 arrived in Santiago de Chile Wednesday accompanied by his wife, children and several other family members after having stayed almost two weeks in a Madrid hotel.
Wednesday, August 4th 2010 - 21:02 UTC
Vegetables and meat prices push Uruguay’s inflation in July above 1%

Uruguay’s consumer inflation increased 1.09% in July accumulating 4.21% so far this year and 6.29% in the last twelve months, which is in the target range of the Central bank.
Wednesday, August 4th 2010 - 20:59 UTC
Meat from offspring of cloned cows consumed in UK triggers controversy

Meat from the offspring of a cloned cow was eaten in the UK last year, the Food Standards Agency has said. Two bulls from the embryos of a cow cloned in the US were bought by a farm near Nairn in the Highlands, and meat from one was sold to consumers.
Wednesday, August 4th 2010 - 20:56 UTC
Fidel Castro back on stage to discuss “issues of interest in the international situation”

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro’s request for an extraordinary session of parliament to discuss foreign affairs was granted Wednesday which could mean the retired leader of the 1959 revolution may be taking a greater role in government.
Wednesday, August 4th 2010 - 06:55 UTC
North of Chile, land of telescopes, preparing to promote “astronomy tourism”

With the installation of the world's biggest telescope planned in northern Chile many communities there are hoping the tourism industry will benefit from the world of astronomy.
Wednesday, August 4th 2010 - 06:51 UTC
Mexico to debate legalization of drugs; 28.000 deaths related to the ‘war’

Mexican president Felipe Calderon has invited the country to a serious debate on the legalization of drugs in light of the latest figures indicating that over 28,000 people had been killed in a four year period.