Stories for January 18th 2012

Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 05:31 UTC
Mujica and Lula da Silva discuss promoting regional integration as a doctrine

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica and former leader Lula da Silva, under treatment for larynx cancer, said in Sao Paulo on Tuesday that they would like to have a group of Latin American intellectuals involved in the discussion and promotion of regional integration as a doctrine.
Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 05:19 UTC
Chavez and Putin agree to defend independence and sovereignty of Syria and Iran

The sovereignty of Syria and Iran should be defended against 'foreign interferences' and from the siege of ‘colonial powers’ Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin agreed during a telephone conversation, according to the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs ministry.
Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 05:16 UTC
Brazil plans to further fund the Development bank anticipating credit crunch

Brazil is considering injecting more funds to the National Development bank, BNDES for the fifth year running in anticipation of a possible shortage of long term credit in the economy, said Arno Augustin, Secretary of the Treasury.
Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 05:12 UTC
Drought emergency in central Argentina and Paraguay but no sufficient rains on sight

Argentine corn and soy farms will suffer from hot weather and scant rains for the rest of this week, forecasters said on Tuesday, increasing worries that crop losses will eat into global supplies.
Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 05:06 UTC
Argentina wins US appeal against ruling awarding compensation to British Gas

Argentina won a US appeals court decision throwing out a 185 million dollar award to the UK BG Group Plc, which claimed the country’s freeze on natural gas prices caused the bankruptcy of a local gas distributor it controlled.
Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 03:20 UTC
Rating agencies forecast Greece’s default…but in an orderly manner

Like in Colombian Nobel Prize Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel “Chronicle of a Death Foretold” Fitch rating agency said on Tuesday that Greece would default on its debt, although it anticipated that such a default was likely to take place in an orderly manner.
Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 03:13 UTC
Argentine defaulted bonds dispute reaches the US Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court has asked President Barack Obama's administration for its views of a ruling that unfroze 105 million dollars of Argentina's central bank deposits in a setback for two US investment funds that sought to seize the money to satisfy their claims from Argentina’s debt default a decade ago.
Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 03:08 UTC
Relief for Humala as second vice-president finally resigns over corruption claims

Peruvian Vice President Omar Chehade has resigned over corruption allegations but lawmakers expect him to try to hang onto his seat in Congress, where he could face an expulsion vote later this week.
Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 02:58 UTC
HMS Montrose on patrol in South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands

The Royal Navy Type 23 frigate HMS Montrose”, with a crew of 185 made a several days patrol visit to South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, GSSI, waters in December.
Wednesday, January 18th 2012 - 02:54 UTC
Thirteen cruise vessels call at South Georgia; growing number of Chinese visitors

Thirteen cruise vessels visited South Georgia last December including new vessel “L'Austral” which, in line with usual practice, was joined by a Government Observer to look at the ship's operation, passenger management and bio-security procedures, reports the South Georgia Newsletter.