Stories for June 16th 2011

Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 23:18 UTC
Argentina human rights group money spent on Ferraris, yachts and villas

A major scandal has unfolded in Argentina involving one of the cherished and exploited banners of the two Kirchner administrations (Nestor and Cristina, 2003/2011): human rights policy and the organization of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo.
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 23:08 UTC
US scientists close to producing super-wheat resistant to deadly-rust variants

United States scientists say they are close to producing super varieties of wheat that will resist from variants of Ug99, a new and deadly form of wheat rust and at the same time boost yields by as much as 15%.
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 19:23 UTC
UN Secretary General praises Uruguay’s contribution to peace keeping worldwide

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon thanked Uruguay for being one of the largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping worldwide. Ban Ki-moon is currently on a South American round of visits that included Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 19:09 UTC
Uruguay supports Ban Ki-moon re-election because of his commitment to multilateralism

Uruguay’s support for the re-election of Mr Ban Ki-moon as Secretary General is based on his decisive efforts to impulse multilateralism since taking office in 2007, said Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro.
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 15:28 UTC
After 5 months patrolling the Falklands, HMS York returns to Portsmouth July

The Royal Navy’s HMS York on the last leg of her five-month deployment to the South Atlantic on Falkland Islands patrolling is heading for Britain after having shifted oceans to the Pacific.
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 15:10 UTC
Falklands: Argentina deplores PM Cameron’s “regrettable act of arrogance”

The Argentine Government said it “deplores that, in a regrettable act of arrogance, the United Kingdom claims to have the authority to ‘put an end’ to the unresolved conflict regarding the Malvinas Islands sovereignty, a case that is currently being recognized by the United Nations.”
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 13:26 UTC
Banco do Brasil plans to expand into Chile, Peru and Colombia

Banco do Brasil, Latin America’s biggest bank by assets, is considering buying lenders in Colombia, Peru and Chile to attract corporate clients and increase business with Brazilian companies in the region. Last month the bank announced the reopening of its branch in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 13:20 UTC
Argentina about to have its first gay divorce: a lesbian couple

Argentina is about to have its first gay divorce, not quite a year after a groundbreaking law legalized homosexual marriage.
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 06:14 UTC
Humala announces an “open channel of direct communication” with Chile

Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala highlighted the “open channel of direct communication” established with Chile and President Sebastian Piñera following a two hour meeting on Wednesday between the two leaders in Santiago’s presidential palace.
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 06:10 UTC
Brazil’s default risk lower than the US, claims Minister Mantega

Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said Wednesday that his country's default risk had become lower than that of the United States.