Stories for January 30th 2008
Regulations for EU financial industry round the corner
The leaders of Europe's biggest economies have called on financial institutions to improve transparency in all their activities. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown met his French, German and Italian counterparts at Downing Street to discuss the recent global market turmoil. The leaders also called on the IMF and other bodies to monitor risks better.
Corruption in fishing industry rampant, study says
Rising demand and diminishing fish stocks are leading to increasing corruption in the fishing industry, a recent study by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declares.
HMS Endurance locates Antarctic wreck of Explorer
HMS Endurance has located the wreck of the cruise liner M/S Explorer, which sank in Antarctic waters last year, reported the Royal Navy ice patrol ship.
Argentina's statistics reliability again on the spotlight
Inflation in Argentina allegedly reached 22% in 2007 according to a group of displaced experts from the country's Statistics and Census Institute, Indec which has been at the centre of an acrimonious and controversial dispute between the legally autonomous organization and the Kirchner administrations.
Fed cuts rate to 3%, but negative US data softens impact
The Federal Reserve has cut interest rates for the second time in nine days in a further attempt to keep the United States economy from entering a recession. However a barrage of negative data on US growth, housing and employment seems to have watered the reaction from markets.
Health alert in Paraguay following outbreak of dengue
A health alert has been declared in Paraguay in a bid to stop a new outbreak of dengue fever. Health workers have detected some 150 suspected cases of the mosquito-borne disease so far this year. The virus disease seems on its way to becoming endemic in the heart of South Amererica.
EU freezes beef imports from Brazil for sanitary reasons
The European Union will freeze all imports of Brazilian beef as from Thursday after Brazil failed to provide sufficient sanitary safety guarantees announced in Brussels EU Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Markos Kyprianou.
Chilean fish exports reach U$S 3.5 billion in eleven months
Chilean fish and aquaculture exports totaled 3.5 billion US dollars between January and November 2007, up 6.5% over the same period a year ago (3.3 billion) according to the latest data released the Fisheries Sub-secretariat (SUBPESCA).
Chinese company buys into copper and gold mines in Peru
China's largest metal trader announced this week it had received approval to take control of two Peruvian mines in an operation involving 453 million US dollars.
Oil corporations will overhaul contracts with Ecuador
The five foreign hydrocarbons corporations operating in Ecuador said they are willing to overhaul their contracts with the government. President Rafael Correa who is seeking to increase control over the country's key sector said he wants oil firms to strike an agreement in 45 days.
