Stories for February 25th 2011
Argentine government makes a small gesture towards farmers’ groups
Argentina decreed the dissolution of the controversial ONCCA, (Office for the commercial control of agriculture produce) which was directly involved in market regulation and distribution of subsidies and as such caused much irritation and criticism particularly from farmers’ organizations.
HMS Gloucester rounds up Falklands patrol with visit to South Georgia
Royal Navy Portsmouth-based Type 42 destroyer HMS Gloucester, which is nearing the end of a seven-month deployment to the South Atlantic, has rounded off her Falkland Islands’ patrol with a visit to South Georgia.
China Sinopec completes take over of US Occidental Petroleum assets in Argentina
China Petrochemical Group (Sinopec), China's largest oil refiner announced this week that U.S. Occidental Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:OXY) had completed handing over its Argentinean assets to it.
Milestone victory for US radical conservatives in Wisconsin
In what is considered a milestone victory for US radical conservatives the Wisconsin state Assembly approved a Republican proposal to strip public sector unions of most collective bargaining rights despite fierce objections from Democrats and labour unions.
Argentina names globalization-critic economist as ambassador in France
Argentina has appointed economist Aldo Ferrer (84) ambassador to France. The decision was confirmed by the decree 180/2011 which was signed by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman, on February 22.
Brazil wants global trade talks, ‘but will not make new concessions’
Brazil's Foreign Affairs ministry told U.S. officials on Thursday that Brazil wants global talks at the World Trade Organization to move forward, but can't make any new concessions.
China will participate in Brazil’s next oil and gas bidding round
China's Sinopec Corp said it planned to participate in Brazil's next oil and gas bidding rounds, which should be resumed after the passage of a reform of the country's oil law expected this year.
Half a million Brazilians murdered between 1998 and 2008
Brazil is the sixth most murderous country in a list of 100 nations around the world, according to a new study sponsored by the government and released Thursday.
Repsol-YPF doubles profits; targets Brazil’s new fields instead of Argentina
Repsol-YPF, Spain’s biggest oil company, said fourth-quarter profit more than doubled after refining margins improved and crude prices increased. Profit adjusted to exclude inventories and one-time items climbed to 499 million Euros from 241 million Euros a year earlier, the Madrid-based company said on Thursday.
Record profits for world’s largest iron ore producer on China’s insatiable demand
Brazilian mining giant and the world’s largest iron- ore producer Vale SA said its fourth-quarter profit almost quadrupled, because of surging prices for the raw material used to make steel.
