Stories for February 14th 2007
White House lobbying Congress to approve free trade accords
United States chief trade official Susan Schwab said the Bush administration is very anxious to see Congress vote for the free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia and Panama which have been stalled by Democrats' concerns over labor provisions.
Dengue outbreak: UN forecasts “difficult year”
The entire Latin America region needs to take preventive measures to prepare for what promises to be a “difficult year” for dengue fever following an outbreak of the mosquito-borne infection in Paraguay, United Nations health officials have warned.
US trade deficit in 2006 remained at 5.8% of GDP
The United States trade deficit rose 6.5% last year reaching a new record high of 763.6 billion US dollars reported Tuesday the US Department of Commerce.
Bishop leads polls for Paraguay's 2008 presidential election
A former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo is the candidate with the best image among voters for the 2008 Paraguayan presidential, while current head of state Nicanor Duarte ranks ten, according to a public opinion poll released Tuesday in the capital Asunción.
Falklands' new port development plan moves on
The Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) this week announced the appointment of Scandinavian port experts Royal Haskoning to create a port development plan, which it is hoped will draw together the diverse needs of everyone using port facilities in the Falkland Islands.
Argentine efforts won't rain on Falklands fisheries celebration
Falkland Islands Legislative Council member Dr. Andrea Clausen does not believe that new amendments to Argentine Fisheries Legislation, which will make it illegal for vessels to be licensed in both the Argentine and Falklands/Malvinas zones should be “too detrimental to the private sector in the Islands.”
Botnia keeps to plan and opens disputed pulp mill in 3Q
The controversial Botnia-Orion pulp mill under construction in Uruguay and challenged by Argentina, is “keeping to the timetable” and forecasted to be “officially inaugurated” sometime in the third quarter of this year (July-September), according to reliable sources from the Finnish corporation.
Argentina: Hake landings the lowest in the last four years
From 1 to 31 January, 15,780.7 tonnes of common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) were landed, and is the lowest number registered since 2003, according to the Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Secretariat (SAGPyA) statistics. Last year, during the same month, landings of this species totalled 21,281.3 tonnes, while the average output registered in January during the last four years was about 23,000 tonnes.
British, Hungarian bird flu outbreaks linked
Tests on H5N1 bird flu viruses found in Britain and Hungary showed they were genetically almost identical and the most likely transmission route was from poultry to poultry, Britain said yesterday.
Argentine banks switch to Europe
US financial and anti-money laundering regulations have increased the cost of doing business with US banks to such an extent that Latin American businesses are turning to European financial institutions, Argentina's central bank chief said yesterday.
