Stories for April 4th 2011
Mujica promises businessmen economic policy to remain on course and reliable
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica ratified this weekend before 1.200 businesspeople that his administration will keep the course and ‘reliability’ of the current economic policy, although this will not impede “changes that may surface consequences of the moment”.
President Barack Obama expected to announce this week re-election plans
Barack Obama is likely to announce plans next week to run for re-election and file campaign papers with the Federal Election Commission as early as Monday, a Democratic official said.
Source rock and possible shale oil discovered in the centre of Uruguay
Uruguay state-run oil and gas company ANCAP announced the discovery of source rock which might contain underground shale oil or natural gas deposits.
Paraguay after partners to explore for oil in the vast Chaco region
Paraguay’s government oil company Petropar is trying to find a foreign associate for oil exploration in the country’s vast Chaco region. Apparently companies from Russia and Bahrain have shown certain interest but Paraguayans admit the difficulties.
“London and New York, two biggest laundries of criminal and drug money”
Martin Woods, a former senior anti-money laundering officer at the London office of Wachovia Bank says that New York and London have become the world's two biggest laundries of criminal and drug money, and offshore tax havens.
Paraguay’s 2010/11 soy bean crop could reach 8.4 million tons
Paraguay’s 2010/11 soy bean crop covers 2.830.000 hectares (twice the area ten years ago) and the expected yield is between 2.900 and 3.100 kilos per hectare according to the latest satellite pictures in hands of the Paraguayan Chamber of Grains and Oilseed Exporters, Capeco.
So far the record yield dates back to 2003 with a national average of 2.915 kilos.
President Rousseff’s foreign policy “will emphasize human rights (South and North)”
The Brazilian government admitted for the first time that there is some profile changes in the foreign policy implemented by President Dilma Rousseff compared to her predecessor Lula da Silva.
Parts of Air France aircraft lost in 2009 found on seabed of the Atlantic
France has discovered what appears to be part of an Air France aircraft that crashed in the Atlantic almost two years ago killing all 228 people on board, accident investigators said.
FAO calls on Asia to tighten FMD controls; outbreak reported in Taiwan
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO called for veterinary and border control authorities in Asia to be on alert for animals showing signs of Foot and Mouth Disease, FMD. The request follows on South Korea’s culling millions of livestock and vaccinating millions more to stop the spread of FMD, while North Korea also is responding to an outbreak of the disease.
FAO alerts on three pesticides and industrial chemicals
United Nations chemical experts have recommended that two pesticides - endosulfan and azinphos methyl - and one severely hazardous pesticide formulation - Gramoxone Super - be included in the Rotterdam Convention's Prior Informed Consent procedure.
