Stories for April 28th 2008
Transparency call for oil industry to help with “revenue puzzle”
A majority of leading oil and gas companies are far from transparent when it comes to the payments they make to resource-rich countries, leaving the door open to corruption and hampering efforts to fight poverty, according to a report published Monday by Transparency International (TI).
Seven S. American countries launch the Bank of the South
South American Economy ministers agreed in Montevideo on an initial credit turnover of 20 billion US dollars for the regional development Bank of the South as well as each country member's contribution and credit access.
Market talk of Shell's renewed interest in Falklands' oil
Borders & Southern Petroleum Plc from the UK and which explores for oil near the Falkland Islands rose in London trading on Monday on speculation Royal Dutch Shell Plc may make a takeover bid, according to Bloomberg News.
Good performance of Paraguayan economy last year: 6.8
The Paraguayan economy boosted by the faro sector Grez 6.8% in 2007, which is higher than originally forecasted, 6.4%, according to the country's Central Band president German Rojas.
Argentina's country risk reaches highest since June 2005
Argentina's country risk according to JP Morgan signaled last Friday a new high, matching the June 2005 mark, following Standard & Poor's negative rating of Argentina's foreign debt.
Free Tibet flags were being made in Chinese factory
Police in southern China have discovered a factory manufacturing Free Tibet flags, according to media reports in Beijing. The factory in Guangdong had been completing overseas orders for the flag of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Argentine gov. support falls 13 points in one month
Just four months in office President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has suffered a considerable loss of support and over half of Argentines feel the country is in the wrong track, according to a public opinion poll released Sunday in Buenos Aires.
High meat and cereal prices for some time forecasts bank
China's preference for different types of meat and a growing demand for cereals and oilseeds have had a direct impact on the price of food world wide according to an expert from the Spanish bank BBVA, which has a strong influence and presence in Latinamerica.
OPEC and Bush agree: speculation dominates oil prices
For once OPEC and US president George Bush seem to agree there's no short term fix to oil international prices. The convergence occurred Monday as crude prices edged closer to 120 dollars a barrel, fueled by the shutdown of a key pipeline and concerns about violence in Nigeria.
OAS mediation to prevent armed conflict in Bolivia
The OAS, Organization of American States, has sent a top negotiator to Bolivia in an attempt to mediate between the administration of President Evo Morales and Santa Cruz province governor Ruben Costas, ahead of next Sunday's controversial autonomy referendum which could signal the beginning of the dismembering of the landlocked country.
