Stories for August 2010

Saturday, August 28th 2010 - 06:16 UTC
Unusually low temperatures empties Bolivian rivers of fish

With high Andean peaks and a humid tropical forest, Bolivia is a country of ecological extremes. But during the Southern Hemisphere's recent winter, unusually low temperatures in part of the country's tropical region hit freshwater species hard, killing an estimated 6 million fish and thousands of alligators, turtles and river dolphins.
Saturday, August 28th 2010 - 06:12 UTC
Surprise performance of UK economy, “but don’t get carried away”

The UK economy grew by more than initially thought in the second quarter of 2010, boosted by a strong performance by the construction sector. The economy grew by 1.2% in the quarter, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, revising up its initial estimate of 1.1% growth.
Saturday, August 28th 2010 - 06:09 UTC
US economy recovery “softened” but Fed ready to take further steps

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the economic recovery has softened more than expected and the Fed is ready to take further steps if needed to spur the stumbling economy.
Friday, August 27th 2010 - 16:30 UTC
Chile Looks to Relax Casino Laws to Cater Cruise Ship Tourism

The Ministry of the Economy is planning to send a bill to Chile’s Congress that would allow cruise ships to operate their casinos while in Chilean waters. This would repeal a section of the 2005 Casinos Act that requires all cruise ships to shut down their casinos when they pass within 13.8 miles of Chile's shoreline.
Friday, August 27th 2010 - 08:28 UTC
Timerman flies to Montevideo and will announce scientists for joint-river monitoring

Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Héctor Timerman informed via Twitter that he will fly to Montevideo next Monday to meet his Uruguayan counterpart, Luis Almagro in the framework of the recent agreement regarding the dispute over the UPM/Botnia pulp-mill.
Friday, August 27th 2010 - 08:25 UTC
Malvinas: Argentina working for more than “a gesture of support” from Unasur

Argentina is working with Unasur (Union of South American Nations) so that in the future the South American forum offers more than “a gesture of support” to Argentina’s claim over the Falkland/Malvinas Islands and helps bring the United Kingdom to the sovereignty negotiations table, said Argentine ambassador before United Nations, Jorge Argüello.
Friday, August 27th 2010 - 08:18 UTC
Mexico to impose strict limits on cash transactions to fight organized crime

Following the discovery of 72 bodies in northern Mexico, allegedly illegal immigrants heading for United States killed by one of the country’s main drug-cartels, Mexican President Felipe Calderon proposed Thursday a new package of measures against money laundering to help fight organized crime.
Friday, August 27th 2010 - 08:13 UTC
Cuba promotes luxury golf courses by giving state-land for 99 years

The cash-strapped Cuban government will allow foreign investors to use state-owned land for up to 99 years in a change that is likely to bring developments of luxury golf courses to the communist island.
Friday, August 27th 2010 - 08:05 UTC
Argentina’s hotel building boom: “symbol of climb back from global downturn”

Argentina’s hotel building boom can be held up as a symbol of South America’s climb back from the global downturn. The country has 15 projects in the development pipeline representing 1,700 rooms, according to STR Global. Of those 1,700 rooms, 68.9% or 1,172 are currently in the in-construction phase of development.
Friday, August 27th 2010 - 08:02 UTC
Peru combats the inflow of capital raising banks’ reserve requirements

Peru’s central bank will raise the reserve requirement for foreign banks depositing local currency in the domestic banking system after the Sol rose to a two- year high.