Stories for July 8th 2010
Argentina analyzing Uruguayan counterproposal for joint river monitoring plan
“The ball is now on the Argentine court” said Uruguayan Vice-president Danilo Astori commenting on the country’s counterproposal for the monitoring plan to be jointly applied with Argentina to pulp mills, other industries and urban locations straddling the shared River Uruguay.
Oil and gas finds in the Magellan basin, extreme south of Chile
Latin American oil and gas exploration and production company GeoPark Holdings (AIM: GPK) revealed this week new gas and oil finds on the Fell block in the extreme south of Chile.
EU court ruling favours Argentina in dispute with Monsanto over soy-seed patent
United States Monsanto Co., the world’s biggest seed company, can’t use a European patent on its Roundup Ready soybeans to block Argentinean soy meal imports, the European Union’s highest court said Wednesday.
FAO establishes new standards for melamine in infant food and animal feed
The maximum amount of melamine allowed in powdered infant formula is 1 mg/kg and the amount of the chemical allowed in other foods and animal feed is 2.5 mg/kg, according to new rulings from the United Nations' food standards body, Codex Alimentarius Commission.
Cricket world first at the Three Falklands Week Festival in Fife
A cricketing first takes place this July when Falkland Cricket Club (FCC) Fife will play their namesakes from Newbury Berkshire, and the Falkland Islands Cricket Association (FICA) who are travelling 8,000 miles from the South Atlantic to take part in the Festival of the Three Falklands Cricket Week.
Chile Transparency Council orders transgenic seeds’ information be made public
The debate is finally over: early this month Chile’s Transparency Council unanimously ruled that the Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) has 15 days to publicize the names and locations of transgenic seed growers in Chile.
Asia needs to double food production in the next decades warns FAO
Philippines-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) is encouraging developing economies in Asia and Pacific to boost their investment in the agriculture sector to address the widespread hunger and cushion billions of people from future spikes in food prices.
Cuba promises to the Catholic Church the liberation of 52 political prisoners
Cuba is to liberate 52 political prisoners, of the group of 75 that were condemned in 2003, who would be able to leave the country, the Cuban Catholic Church informed Wednesday in an official communiqué.
“Democratic clause” to be included in Unasur constitution, said Kirchner
The Union of South American Nations, (UNASUR), Secretary General Nestor Kirchner ended Wednesday a two-day visit to Chile where he met with President Sebastian Piñera and congressional leaders to lobby for the approval of the regional group’s charter.
Correa and Chavez friendlier towards Colombian president-elect Santos
Colombian President-elect Juan Manuel Santos has invited Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez to attend his inauguration in August, local media reported in a possible sign of warming ties between the neighbours.
