Stories for August 18th 2010

Wednesday, August 18th 2010 - 04:50 UTC
Spanish fishing vessels threatening to abandon the port of Montevideo

Spanish fishing vessel owners have warned Uruguayan port authorities that they are considering leaving the port of Montevideo because of the costly labour disputes with crew members when the vessels dock, taking advantage of a very ‘misbalanced’ legislation.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 - 04:40 UTC
Constitutional Court says US/Colombia military accord must pass Congress

Colombia's Constitutional Court suspended a deal giving US troops more access to Colombian bases, sending the agreement back to President Juan Manuel Santos to seek congressional approval.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 - 04:28 UTC
China points out: second-largest economy but not second largest economic power

This week’s news that China had overtaken Japan to become the world's second-largest economy in the second quarter of this year made headlines around the world. The economic milestone was seen as a telling confirmation of the shifting balance of economic power in Asia, and as a culmination of China's stunning three-decade economic resurgence.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 - 04:24 UTC
Wheat futures advance as Ukraine follows Russia and imposes export quota

Wheat futures advanced for the first time in four sessions in Chicago trading after Ukraine, the second-largest exporter in the former Soviet Union last year, said it will probably limit overseas sales, following Russia’s restrictions on trade.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 - 03:53 UTC
Piñera condemns links of Chile’s communists, Mapuche militants and FARC

Responding to a recent document linking activists from the indigenous Mapuches and Chile's Communist Party to Colombian guerrilla group FARC, President Sebastián Piñera condemned any collaboration between Chileans and violent groups.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 - 03:51 UTC
Paraguay meat exports reach 530 million USD in seven months

Mercosur junior member Paraguay exported over 100.000 tons of beef generating 395 million US dollars during the first seven months of 2010, according to the country’s National Animal Health and Food Quality Service, Senacsa.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 - 03:47 UTC
Harvard consolidates as top US academic research institution

Harvard University took sole possession of first place in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 rankings of top United States academic research institutions. Princeton University, which tied with Harvard for the lead last year, fell to second place.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 - 03:34 UTC
Balmoral to retrace in April 2012 centenary of the Titanic route

Relatives of those who perished on the Titanic will be boarding a cruise to mark the 2012 centenary of the sinking of the vessel. A special ceremony will take place on board the cruise ship Balmoral 100 years on from the exact time the Titanic hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic on the night of April 15 1912.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 - 03:03 UTC
Shell agrees to pay for environmental damages caused by 2005 oil spill

A lawsuit filed against Shell Oil Company in 2005 by north Chile fisherman and shellfish divers has resulted in a compromise settlement requiring Shell to pay 1.2 million US dollars to the plaintiffs and repair environmental damages.
Wednesday, August 18th 2010 - 02:58 UTC
Whiskey’s noblesse: super bio-fuel (butanol) from distilleries by products

Topping up at the petrol pump is about to take an intriguing twist as cars are set to be fuelled with a new super bio-fuel, made from whisky by-products. Edinburgh Napier University has filed a patent for the new bio-fuel, which can be used in ordinary cars, without any special adaptations needed.