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Reuters: [2008-05-14 23:45:00]

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Keywords: *TOP NEWS* Latin America 
    

Rugby-IRB chief Lapasset looks to get Argentina moving forward

Reuters: [2008-05-14 23:42:00]

By Rex Gowar

LONDON, May 14 (Reuters) - IRB president Bernard Lapasset is in Buenos Aires hoping to kick-start Argentina's march into professional rugby, an International Rugby Board official said.

"One of (his) priorities is to get Argentina right," Mark Egan, head of the IRB's Rugby Services department, which fosters the game's development worldwide, told Reuters on Wednesday.

Argentina captain Agustin Pichot, who led the Pumas to third place in the 2007 World Cup, is using his myriad connections in the professional game to help the process along.

Lapasset, who began his presidency this year, travelled to Buenos Aires on Tuesday for three days of meetings with leading Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) officials.

Argentina have been bogged down in internal squabbles, holding up the release of IRB funds to set up high performance centres and build teams of professional players to ensure the continuity of the Pumas' excellent World Cup.

"The previous UAR administration didn't do their work...(discussions) all went nowhere," Egan said.

"But there has been good progress under the new UAR board and we hope to have a strategic plan finalised by June."

The funds Argentina are in line to receive over the next three years have grown to about $8 million, the IRB announced earlier this week. That includes money that would have been released sooner against a viable UAR modernisation plan.

"The UAR has accepted that Argentina's future lies in Sanzar with the Tri-nations as the ultimate goal," Egan added, referring to the body grouping the big three in the southern hemisphere -- Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Pichot's role, said Egan, "is as part of the project team which has been tasked with overseeing the completion of the new strategic plan for the union.

"The team includes key board members and Agustin's input is as a technical advisor on professional rugby matters." (Editing by Ken Ferris)

((rex.gowar@thomsonreuters.com; +442075423321; Reuters Messaging: rex.gowar.reuters.com@reuters.net. For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com))

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Keywords: RUGBY IRB/ARGENTINA

Emerging debt-Argentina down, Venezuela up on Chavez talk

Reuters: [2008-05-14 22:42:00]

* Argentine bonds down awaiting farmers' negotiation offer

* Venezuela up as Chavez "anxious" for better US ties

* Chile affirmed by Fitch "A" with positive outlook

By Manuela Badawy

NEW YORK, May 14 (Reuters) - Argentine sovereign bonds fell on Wednesday as investors awaited news from a farmers strike that has crippled the economy and has raised supply fears of global markets.

Argentine Discount bonds due to mature in 2033 <ARGGLB33=RR> fell 1.312 percentage points to bid 79.938 as investors waited to see if the Argentine government offered to negotiate with the farm leaders.

On Tuesday a farm leader offered to lift the protest for 24 hours if the government agreed, but said the strike, on its sixth day, could be extended if there is no agreement.

Farmers in Argentina, a leading exporter of soy, wheat and corn, are locked in a two-month standoff with the government over a new sliding-scale export tax that farmers say effectively caps prices for their goods. Argentina accounts for nearly 3.0 percent of world food exports.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan bonds bounced on reports that its president Hugo Chavez said was "anxious" to improve relations with the next U.S. president.

Venezuela's sovereign bond due in 2034 <VENGLB34=RR> rose 1.500 percentage points on the news, to bid 84.500 and to yield 11.224 percent.

"This mildly counters the negatives of the last few days where there's been increased references of the link Chavez/FARC, which puts pressure on the US to dub Venezuela a state supporter of terrorism," said Enrique Alvarez, head of emerging market strategy at IDEAglobal.

Chavez, who has called U.S. President George W. Bush "the devil" and "Mr Danger", accuses the United States of having imperial designs in Latin America and says the White House plotted his overthrow.

Chile, on the other hand, had its credit rating affirmed by Fitch with a positive outlook, despite mounting inflation pressures and some economic deceleration, signaling that it may upgrade the country's ratings if those problems are addressed.

Fitch currently rates Chile's sovereign bonds at "A".

The agency said a rating upgrade is still possible depending on the "effectiveness of the monetary and fiscal policy response" to those macroeconomic challenges.

It also stressed that fiscal and external indicators have strengthened since its last review.

Chile's inflation reached 7.8 percent last year, well above the central bank's target of 3 percent.

"Chile still stands out in the region as a very well managed economy and despite the recent policy challenges and unfortunate negative shocks its policies are still seen as the reference or standard it terms of conventional, forward-looking, and orthodox policy making," Alberto Ramos, senior economist at Goldman Sachs said in a research note.

((manuela.badawy@reuters.com; +1 646-223-6055; Reuters Messaging: manuela.badawy.reuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: MARKETS EMERGINGDEBT/

Argentine soy market at a standstill in farm strike

Reuters: [2008-05-14 22:29:00]

    BUENOS AIRES, May 14 (Reuters) - Argentine soy's closing 
prices and trends on Wednesday: 
    
    * In the main grain port of Rosario, no grains were traded 
on Wednesday due to a strike by farmers. 
    * Last week, farmers announced a freeze on grains sales for 
export until May 15 to protest a new system of export taxes. 
    * Chicago Board of Trade soybean futures closed higher on 
Wednesday, supported by the Argentine farm strike and slow 
development of the U.S. Midwest crop. 
    * On May 6, the last day that prices were listed in 
Rosario, soy changed hands for 910 pesos per tonne. 
 (Reporting by Maximilian Heath; Writing by Kevin Gray; Editing 
by Christian Wiessner) 
 ((kevin.gray@thomsonreuters.com; + 54-11-4510-4505; Reuters 
Messaging: kevin.gray.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
For the latest news and prices, click on the items in 
brackets: 
Argentine grain/oilseed prices  <GBRA>-D 
Daily Argentine grain fixings   <RPPA> 
Argentina FOB export prices     <GRAIN/AR01> 
Argentina grain/oilseed exports <GRAT> 
Argentine domestic oilseed/wheat industry <GRAU> 
Argentine MAT futures           <BCC/FUTEX1> 
ROFEX-Rosario Futures Exchange  <ROFEX> 
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Argentine wheat export commitments [WHE/AR] 
Argentine corn export commitments  [COR/AR] 
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Keywords: MARKETS ARGENTINA/GRAINS 
    

Tennis-Tributes to Justine Henin

Reuters: [2008-05-14 21:57:00]

BRUSSELS, May 14 (Reuters) - Following is a selection of tributes to Belgian world number one Justine Henin, who retired from tennis on Wednesday.

LARRY SCOTT (WTA Tour chief executive): "Justine Henin will be remembered as one of the all-time great champions in women's tennis, and a woman who made up for her lack of size with a will to win and fighting spirit that was second to none," he said in a statement.

"It is rare that an athlete leaves at the very top of her game in this day and age but Justine has always played by her own rules.

"History will remember Justine for not only her seven grand slam titles and three years finishing as the WTA Tour's world number one but for one of the most graceful backhands the sport has ever seen and an ability to overcome any and all obstacles placed in her way on the tennis court and off."

FRANCESCO RICCI BITTI (ITF president): "Justine Henin has been an outstanding athlete of her generation, and had a grace and style on court that distinguished her from other players. She has always been one of my favourite players to watch.

"Her victory at the 2004 Athens Olympics was Belgium's only gold medal at the Games and we are sorry that she won't be able to defend her title in Beijing. She has made a huge contribution to the sport."

ROGER FEDERER (Switzerland), men's world number one: "It's obviously a shock for the tennis world. It's a particular surprise before Roland Garros and Wimbledon, which she's never won.

"It's quite surprising and unfortunate that she's out of the game but she will have her reasons.

"She is a special player because she can play on any surface and it's remarkable that she's won so many tournaments because she is small and the tall players coming in now have an advantage.

"I couldn't imagine deciding out of the blue to retire, especially if I was number one. I would prefer to take a year off if it was all getting too much for me, rather than saying straight out that I'm not going to go on."

VENUS WILLIAMS (U.S.): "She was a great opponent. She always challenged herself to play her best tennis, no matter what the circumstances. A real fighter."

SERENA WILLIAMS (U.S.): "She was a great champion and she gave me a world of trouble, so I hope the best for her. What can you say about such a great champion? I don't think we have enough time."

JELENA JANKOVIC (Serbia): "I was very surprised by her retirement because she's doing very well and she's still young. She's great for the game.

"It can sometimes be very difficult, many years playing and travelling around the world. Being there, being at the top, can be very difficult. We will miss her."

ANA IVANOVIC (Serbia): "(Tennis loses) another champion, a great player who brought a lot to the women's game. She had a different game to any other woman on the tour. I'm sorry to hear this."

BILLIE JEAN KING (U.S): "Pound for pound Justine is the best player of her generation. I trust she has not come to this decision quickly or easily and I wish her the very best. Justine is an extraordinary player, a special person and a true champion in both tennis and in life."

CARLOS RODRIGUEZ (Henin's coach): "Technically and tactically she has it all. But I think she will be remembered for the way in which she won and lost and the way she never gave up no matter what was going on in her life.

"She never craved fame and money. All she wanted to do was play and win."

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

((pritha.sarkar@reuters.com; +44 20 7542 7933; Reuters Messaging: pritha.sarkar.reuters.com@reuters.net. For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com))

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Keywords: TENNIS HENIN/REACTION