Stories for May 2011

Sunday, May 15th 2011 - 14:49 UTC
IMF head and French president hopeful arrested for alleged sex act in New York

An attempted-rape charge against IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn may put an end to his prospects of running in the French presidential election even as his party called for calm and unity until the claims have been verified.
Sunday, May 15th 2011 - 09:28 UTC
Film “Destroyer” will re-edit the sinking of HMS Coventry in the Falklands war

The sinking of HMS Coventry in the Falklands War is to be made into a full-length cinema film to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the tragedy, reports the Portsmouth and Coventry press.
Saturday, May 14th 2011 - 05:22 UTC
Falkland Islanders still exposed to dangers of Argentine unexploded ordnance

The Falkland Islands Joint Services Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD, detachment recently moved headquarters from Lookout Camp in the capital Stanley to the British military base at Mount Pleasant.
Saturday, May 14th 2011 - 05:15 UTC
French minister finds ‘strong tension and difficulties’ between Argentina and Brazil

French Foreign Trade Secretary Pierre Lellouche said he had witnessed ‘strong tensions’ among Mercosur members during negotiations with the European Union for a free trade agreement.
Saturday, May 14th 2011 - 05:07 UTC
World’s main trading nations remain divided on global agreement: Doha Round doomed?

The world's main trading nations remain divided over a global trade deal despite a compromise plan put forward by the European Union to rescue the stalled Doha trade round, the EU trade chief said.
Saturday, May 14th 2011 - 05:03 UTC
US tourism industry calls for reforming the “antiquated visa process”

The U.S. Travel Association unveiled a plan to create 1.3 million U.S. jobs and add 859 billion dollars to the U.S. economy by 2020 by reforming an antiquated visa process that often drives international travelers to other countries. The heart of U.S. Travel's plan is to increase staffing, reduce visa interview wait times and expand the Visa Waiver Program.
Saturday, May 14th 2011 - 04:50 UTC
Argentina/Brazil agree on a ‘constructive dialogue’ to overcome trade disputes

Following a long day of open letters and press exchanges Argentina and Brazil finally agreed on the ground rules for the initiation of a ‘constructive dialogue’ to soften the trade dispute which erupted when Brazil imposed non automatic licences on imported cars, including from Mercosur’ main partner Argentina.
Friday, May 13th 2011 - 14:53 UTC
Police with clubs is not the answer to Chile’s HidroAysén debate

Following Monday’s questionable approval of Chile’s major HidroAysén dam project - a jerry-rigged vote if there ever was one - the administration of President Sebastian Piñera turned police loose on thousands of demonstrators protesting the Patagonia dam project later that evening.
Friday, May 13th 2011 - 14:47 UTC
Capital inflow to Brazil during April falls dramatically

Brazil’s tax increase on foreign loans and debt sales to shield itself from the global currency war helped reduce by 88% the number of dollars that entered the country in April.
Friday, May 13th 2011 - 14:11 UTC
Mercosur has a surplus production of three million tons of rice

Uruguay which does not harvest transgenic rice has been consolidating as a growing European Union supplier and is a traditional provider for Mexico and Middle East countries such as Iran and Iraq.