Stories for January 18th 2006
Oil electromagnetic imaging survey in Falklands' waters
Rockhopper Exploration plc will be undertaking a 2D survey in the North Falklands Basin starting on Monday the 23rd of January.
US promises to cut waiting time for visas
The US on Tuesday launched a drive to encourage foreign visitors, announcing measures aimed at further reducing the delays that plagued many travellers after the September 11 2001 attacks.
Oil prices nearing 67 US dollars a barrel
Crude oil rose for a second day in New York, nearing $67 a barrel, on concern shipments may be disrupted from Iran, which accounts for almost 5 percent of world output.
Bolivia's Army Chief Fired Over Missiles
Outgoing President Eduardo Rodriguez fired Bolivia's army chief on Tuesday over his decision to have 28 Chinese shoulder-launched missiles destroyed in the United States.
Morales will work tactfully to restore Bolivia's sea access
President-elect Evo Morales said Tuesday that he will tread lightly in his efforts to secure the return of the stretch of Pacific coastline Bolivia lost to Chile in a 19th-century war.
Uruguay will not bow to Greenpeace activists
Uruguay's President Tabare Vazquez said on Tuesday his government will not bow to pressures from outsiders like Greenpeace environmental activists who tried to block construction of two pulp mills in the country.
Populism incorporation to democratic politics is positive
Latinamerican governance and the democratic exercise of government by those leaders freely elected are the main concerns of Washington and not necessarily the bouts of populism of recent years, said US Under-Secretary for Latinamerican Affairs Thomas Shannon.
How Socialist is Bachelet and Morales?
Associating the victory of Chilean elected president Michelle Bachelet with other political events in Latinamerican such as the election of Evo Morales in Bolivia and the popularity of nationalist Ollanta Humala in Peru is absurd, said Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza.
US oil company buys into Neuquen basin
Apache Corporation announced this week an agreement that will expand its Argentina presence through the negotiated acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources' oil and gas operations in that country.
World oil demand forecasted to grow 2.2% in 2006
A rebound in Chinese demand growth and a stronger consumption in United States will push world demand for oil in 2006, estimated to increase 2.2% according to the monthly report from the International Energy Agency, IEA. In 2005 oil demand expanded 1.3% over 2004.


