Stories for August 20th 2014

Wednesday, August 20th 2014 - 21:24 UTC
Red tide devastates mussel growing and canning industry in Galicia

The presence of the lipophilic toxin in the Galician estuaries, (northwest Spain) has caused the closure of almost all Galician mussel polygons and forced the closure of activities in the local canning industry. The red tide is currently blocking 90% of the rafts production, since only two polygons located in Betanzos and four in Redondela are open, reported Atlantico news.
Wednesday, August 20th 2014 - 10:06 UTC
Argentina gambling industry tycoon closes Miami casino for a year

Argentine gambling industry tycoon Cristobal Lopez and who has been targeted by Paul Singer from Elliott Management in his hunt for assets connected to Argentine leaders, has closed for 'a year' a casino he owns in Florida and which he only opened last February.
Wednesday, August 20th 2014 - 10:00 UTC
Citi tells Griesa its banking license in Argentina is at risk because of the 'holdouts case'

Citigroup has told the US appeals court overseeing the dispute between Argentina and hedge funds refusing to accept terms of the country's debt restructuring that its Argentine banking license may be at risk as a result of the standoff.
Wednesday, August 20th 2014 - 09:50 UTC
Dilma admits many problems plague Brazil but refuses to talk about corruption in her party

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff acknowledged “many problems and challenges” still plague the country's woeful heath system but defended her record on the economy and education on a live 15-minute interview on the Globo television network's nightly news.
Wednesday, August 20th 2014 - 09:43 UTC
Chile's economy cooling faster than expected: weakest pace since 2009

Chile's GDP grew at its weakest pace since 2009 in the second quarter as investment waned and a previously rapid expansion in consumer spending slowed, central bank data showed. The economy grew 1.9% in the second quarter compared with a year ago, or a seasonally adjusted 0.2% compared with the first quarter.
Wednesday, August 20th 2014 - 09:22 UTC
Nervous Cristina skirts New York court and pledges to service swapped bonds in Argentina

President Cristina Fernandez said on Tuesday her government will move to service its defaulted debt in Argentina or allow bondholders to swap their bonds for new bonds governed by national law in order to get around a U.S. court order.
Wednesday, August 20th 2014 - 02:56 UTC
US insists Argentina must engage with creditors over sovereign debt dispute

The US government reiterated on Tuesday that the International Court of Justice in The Hague “is not the appropriate venue” for addressing Argentina's debt issues and again called on the government of President Cristina Fernandez to engage with its creditors.
Wednesday, August 20th 2014 - 00:15 UTC
UN accepts extension of Uruguay's continental shelf to 350 miles; first in South America

The United Nations accepted the proposition of the Uruguayan government to extend the Uruguayan territorial seabed from 200 to 350 miles. Uruguay thus becomes the first South American nation to receive the approval of the UN for such request.
Wednesday, August 20th 2014 - 00:08 UTC
Three relatives of Pope Francis killed in car accident in Argentina

Three relatives of Pope Francis, including two young children, died on Tuesday when their car slammed into the back of a truck in Argentina. The Pope's nephew, Emanuel Horacio Bergoglio, who was driving the car, was in a serious condition after the accident, officials said.