Stories for March 19th 2012

Monday, March 19th 2012 - 07:01 UTC
Rousseff expected at the White House but with no ‘state visit’ privilege

Next April 9 Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is expected in the White House and although formally relations are ‘excellent’, Brazil and the US have many dissenting issues, according to Andres Oppenheimer from the Miami Herald and considered an expert in Latin American affairs from the US perspective.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:57 UTC
Moody’s confirms Uruguay closer to investment grade rating based on debt management

Uruguay is likely to be the next Latin American country to win an investment grade rating from Moody's Investors Service, with a review likely late this year, a senior officer from the ratings agency said on Sunday.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:54 UTC
Recalling the phrase “Argentines are crooks from the first to the last”

“You were right, or at least that is what Argentines I come across in the street tell me”, said former Uruguayan president Jorge Batlle. In effect Batlle became world famous in 2002 for his phrase describing the River Plate neighbours: “Argentines are a bunch of crooks, from the first to the last, from A to Z”.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:51 UTC
Uruguay strongly advocates for “free and fluid trade” in Unasur meeting

Uruguay’s Economy minister Fernando Lorenzo called on other members of Unasur, Union of South American Nations, to ensure free trade in the region as a safeguard and guarantee for the sustained growth of country-members in time.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:49 UTC
Greenland’s ice sheet melting much faster that forecasted

Greenland’s ice sheet is more sensitive to global warming than previously thought, according to Spanish and German researchers. The ice sheet may lose its ability to grow once warming reaches 1.6 degrees, a study published in Nature Climate Change found.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:44 UTC
Falklands’ oil company delays report on deep water exploratory drilling

UK based oil firm Borders & Southern pushed back the time frame for initial results from an exploration campaign offshore the Falkland Islands after a deep water well experienced technical issues.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:41 UTC
Two male nurses charged with ‘dozens of mercy killings’ in two Uruguayan hospitals

Especially aggravated murder charges were filed against two male nurses Sunday and a female nurse was charged with covering up a crime in a case involving more than a dozen deaths at two Uruguayan hospitals, judicial officials said.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:37 UTC
Funds from Santiago to put Punta Arenas back on its feet, and loans to small businesses

Chilean Minister of Economy Pablo Longueira announced on Sunday that Punta Arenas in the extreme south of the country which recently suffered a barrage of flash floods will be declared “catastrophe zone”.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:34 UTC
Bocaranda, the gossip columnist who keeps Venezuela informed on Hugo Chavez

Some Venezuelans cannot get enough of Nelson Bocaranda, a mild-mannered radio reporter and gossip columnist who has been dishing up inside information on President Hugo Chavez’s cancer.