Stories for February 13th 2008
La Niña current anticipates dry climate for Americas
The current La Niña weather pattern is expected to strengthen and continue through the middle of the year, bringing wetter conditions to Australia and the western Pacific and a drier climate to the Americas, the United Nations World Meteorological Agency (WMO) reported Tuesday.
“Project Lifeline” to help contain mortgage mess
Six major United States banks are taking part in an initiative to help homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages. Bank of America, Citigroup, Countrywide Financial, JP Morgan Chase, Washington Mutual and Wells Fargo are those taking part in “Project Lifeline”.
Rainfall brings Paraguay closer to record soybean crop
Farmers in Paraguay, the world's fourth-largest soybean exporter, improved their chances of a record harvest after abundant rainfall aided crops in the first half of the growing season, said the Paraguayan Chamber of Cereals and Oilseeds Exporters, CAPECO.
France to help Brazil build fighter planes and submarines
Brazil and France announced the strengthening of their growing strategic alliance in defense and other fields during a presidential summit Tuesday in French Guyana. Nicolas Sarkozy hosted Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the Amazonia border city of Saint Georges-de-l'Oiapock.
Argentina/Venezuela agree to exchange beef-flour for oil
Venezuela and Argentina agreed Tuesday to exchange food for energy thus helping to overcome both countries' weak points following a high level meeting in Caracas. Argentina is to supply 1.000 tons of beef monthly and Venezuela will provide all the crude needed to ensure Argentina's “human and industrial development”.
Falklands' Stanley Services celebrates 20th anniversary
A fuel supplier and freight company vital to the development of the Falkland Islands over the last two decades celebrates its twentieth anniversary since inauguration this year.
Emerging economies not immune to slowdown warns IMF
The International Monetary Fund Director General Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned that emerging economies are not immune to a slowdown resulting from the financial crisis in United States and thus must prepare to cope with the negative effects.
Julia Roberts on holidays in Chilean Patagonia
Hollywood famous star Julia Roberts arrived Wednesday afternoon in Chile surrounded by utmost discretion and accompanied by her three children, a friend and a member of her staff, reported Santiago's Channel 13.
Bolivia admits gas demand growing faster than output
Bolivian vice president Alvaro Garcia Linera ratified Wednesday in Brasilia that his country guarantees the current supply volume of natural gas to Argentina and Brazil, although he cautioned about risks when demand is forecasted to increase next winter.
Brazil confirms inflation target; January IPCA 0.54%
Brazil's monthly inflation slowed in January for the first time in four months as food prices eased. Consumer prices, IPCA index, rose 0.54% in January, down from a 0.74% jump in December, reported Wednesday the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute, IBGE.
