Stories for March 19th 2011

Saturday, March 19th 2011 - 22:54 UTC
Falklands reports grounding of a pod of 400 pilot whales

A record grounding of an estimated 400 pilot whales was reported this week in the Falkland Islands.
Saturday, March 19th 2011 - 07:26 UTC
Oil legislation to obstrut Falklands’ industry, a ‘boomerang’ for Argentine companies says FCO

For the Foreign Office the bill approved this week by the Argentine congress that proscribes fines and sanctions for companies or persons involved in support of the oil industry in the Falkland Islands is a ‘boomerang’’ that will only harm Argentine companies, reports Buenos Aires daily La Nacion in its Friday edition.
Saturday, March 19th 2011 - 07:22 UTC
Inflation alarm-bells in Uruguay as consumer prices rise sharply in Jan-Feb

Uruguay's central bank must act swiftly after a surge in consumer prices during the first two months of the year or the economy could suffer “serious problems,” a recognized research company has warned.
Saturday, March 19th 2011 - 07:19 UTC
Argentina on its way to become net energy importer, claim former ministers

Eight of Argentina's former energy secretaries have released another document highly critical of the government's energy policies. The document, signed by most of the people who have run the Energy Secretariat since Argentina's return to democracy in 1983, is a scathing criticism of government policy.
Saturday, March 19th 2011 - 07:15 UTC
Chilean farm exports fear “cheap” dollar and current situation in Japan

Due to the falling U.S. dollar and the current crisis in Japan stemming from last week’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, Chilean exports may be hit hard with losses this year, despite government assurances to the contrary.
Saturday, March 19th 2011 - 07:13 UTC
Argentine economy expanded 9.2% in 2010 and begins 2011 with a”6% floor”

Argentina’s economy grew 9.2% during the last quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009, according to an official report from the government’s statistics office, Indec. The country’s GDP also increased 2.5% compared to the previous trimester and totalling 9.2% growth during 2010.
Saturday, March 19th 2011 - 07:09 UTC
Swiss Attorney General denies Argentina’s union leader is under investigation

The office of the Swiss Attorney General Friday confirmed Friday it has asked Argentine authorities for legal assistance amid an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering.
Saturday, March 19th 2011 - 00:06 UTC
Brazil wants an equals relation with the US, says Foreign minister Patriota

Brazil’s Foreign Affairs minister Antonio Patriota said that the visit of US president Barack Obama represents a significant reset in bilateral relations. What Brazil wants, declared the minister, ‘is to be treated as an equal, in a more seamless relationship without confrontations’.
Saturday, March 19th 2011 - 00:03 UTC
Obama’s Rio Sunday’s public speech moved from an open plaza to a theatre

President Barack Obama has cancelled a public speech he was scheduled to deliver Sunday in Rio’s main square during his visit to Brazil, the US embassy in Brasilia said.
The speech in the historic plaza known as Cinelandia, in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, “is cancelled” said an embassy spokesperson.