Stories for 2012

Monday, March 19th 2012 - 22:56 UTC
US court confirms graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging

United States federal law requiring large graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging and advertising does not violate the free speech rights of tobacco companies, a federal appeals court ruled on Monday.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 15:44 UTC
FAO Food price index rose 1% in February but is 10% below a year ago

The FAO Food Price Index rose 1% or 2.4 points from January to February. The Index climbed nearly 2% in January – its first increase in six months. The February increase was mostly driven by higher prices of sugar, oils and cereals while dairy prices fell slightly after a marked rise in January.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 15:41 UTC
FAO forecasts second highest on record wheat crop for 2012 with 690 million tons

FAO forecasts that 2012 world wheat production will be the second highest on record at 690 million tonnes. According to FAO quarterly Crop prospects and food situation report forecast a 2012 wheat crop 10 million tons or 1.4% down from the record 2011 harvest but still well above the average of the past five years.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 15:36 UTC
Latam risks in 2012: commodities’ prices, China and European banks

The economy of Latin America and the Caribbean should grow 3.6% this year, down from recent rates above 5% as slower expansion in China, a soft recovery in the US and debt woes in Europe weigh on the global economy.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 14:52 UTC
Cuba detains Ladies in White ahead of the visit by Pope Benedict XVI

Cuban authorities detained on Sunday about 70 members of the dissident group Ladies in White, drawing fresh attention to human rights issues days ahead of a visit by Pope Bendict XVI.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 14:42 UTC
HMS Protector dares ice pack to pick up scientists in remote Antarctic island

The Royal Navy’s Antarctic patrol ship HMS Protector had to punch her way through ice to first deliver, then pick up a team of scientists as the pack ice threatened to trap them – and the ship.
Monday, March 19th 2012 - 11:18 UTC
Maverick Norwegian yachtsman Jarle Andhoy is in trouble again.

According to press reports from Norway and New Zealand over the weekend, the 54-foot yacht steel yacht Nilaya is reported to be sailing off Antarctica with a broken boom and is heading for an unspecified Argentine Antarctic base to carry out emergency repairs and to refuel.
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”.