Stories for 2011

Wednesday, February 23rd 2011 - 06:32 UTC
Biotech crops keep advancing and currently cover over a billion hectares

The amount of land devoted to genetically engineered crops grew 10% last year, and 7% in the year before, as farmers in major grain and soy exporting countries such as Brazil and Argentina continued to adopt the new seeds.
Wednesday, February 23rd 2011 - 06:24 UTC
Ireland flatly opposes beef quotas in current EU/Mercosur trade talks

Beef quotas being sought by the Mercosur countries as part of the ongoing negotiations with the EU were “simply not acceptable”, said Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith.
Wednesday, February 23rd 2011 - 06:14 UTC
Refurbished HMS York scheduled to arrive in the Falklands mid March

The Royal Navy HMS York based in Portsmouth is on her way to the South Atlantic to conduct maritime security patrols. The refurbished Type 42 destroyer will spend the majority of the five-month deployment patrolling the British South Atlantic islands including the Falklands and South Georgia.
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 - 14:44 UTC
NZ quake kills 65; 100 people trapped in the rubble; major glacier cracks

More than 100 people are believed to be trapped in rubble after a deadly 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch on Tuesday, killing at least 65 people.
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 - 07:00 UTC
Malvinas basin oil exploration scheduled to begin first half of 2011

Repsol-YPF plans to start deepwater exploration off the coast of Tierra del Fuego in the Malvinas basin are expected to begin before the end of the first half of 2011, according to company’s sources.
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 - 06:58 UTC
Pan American Energy, --partly Chinese owned--, keeps expanding in Argentina

Argentina's Pan American Energy will sign a deal later this month to buy Exxon Mobil local downstream unit Esso, turning the company into a fully integrated oil and gas producer. Pan American Energy is a unit of Bridas Corp., which is jointly owned by Argentina's Bulgheroni family through Bridas Energy Holdings and China's Cnooc Ltd.
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 - 06:42 UTC
Argentina has ignored Mercosur rules and is now harvesting the benefits

Even when Uruguay and Brazil are in the course of reaching understandings with Argentina regarding the latest trade restrictions to be implemented by President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner administration, ‘which are not targeted against Mercosur members’, the Brazilian press presents another angle.
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 - 06:23 UTC
Gaddafi denies he fled to Venezuela while cracks begin to appear in the regime

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi appeared Monday on state television signalling his defiance in the face of a mounting revolt against his 41-year rule.
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 - 06:19 UTC
“Multiple fatalities” as quake strikes New Zealand’s second city at busy mid-day

Rescuers dug frantically for bodies and people trapped after a major 6.3 earthquake caused “multiple” deaths in New Zealand's second city of Christchurch Tuesday, crushing buildings and vehicles.
Tuesday, February 22nd 2011 - 06:11 UTC
Ireland main parties’ leaders pledge to condition any trade deal with Mercosur

Leaders of Ireland’s three main parties pledged on Monday to oppose any trade deal with Mercosur countries which could damage Irish exports if EU standards of production are not adhered to, reports the Irish Times.