Stories for July 26th 2012
Repsol net profit down in second quarter; plans sale of assets to boost production
Spain’s Repsol SA said on Thursday its second-quarter net profit (excluding the recently-nationalized Argentine unit YPF) declined 45% on the year, as higher production in Libya and elsewhere couldn't offset the effect of declining oil and gas prices on the value of inventories.
UN criticizes as “devastating” Venezuela’s decision to pull out from human rights court
United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Thursday that Venezuela's pullout of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR Court) would be “devastating” for the international organization. Spokesperson Rupert Colville said the move “will be not good for Venezuela either.”
Mujica warns Uruguay is going through an exceptional period, but it is also finite
President Jose Mujica said Uruguay was going through an ‘exceptional’ period vis-à-vis the world crisis but also warned that exceptionality has limits and is not forever.
Uruguay central bank suggests “serene alert” attitude to address global crisis impact
Uruguay must adopt an attitude of “serene alert” given the “uncertainty and uncommon volatility” prevailing in the world said central bank president Mario Bergara, underlining the country has reduced “vulnerabilities” considerably.
Russia will sacrifice 33.000 hogs because of African swine fever outbreak
Russian veterinary services have ordered the termination of 33.000 hogs following an outbreak of Africa swine pest, in the region of Tyer, in the neighbouring province of the capital Moscow.
ECB to the rescue of Spain and Italy and avoid collapse of Euro zone
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi pledged on Thursday to do whatever was necessary to protect the Euro zone from collapse, including acting to lower unreasonably high government borrowing costs.
FAO and OIE call on countries to comply with destruction of “rinderpest” virus samples
The UN's food agency FAO and the OIE (Animal health organization) called on countries on to comply with a 2011 global moratorium and destroy potentially dangerous “rinderpest” virus samples or put them into safe storage.
Brazil discusses with Chavez arrangements for Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation
Venezuelan President met on Wednesday with a committee from the Brazilian government to discuss mechanisms to speed the full integration of the country to the regional block. Brazil currently holds the Mercosur rotating chair.
Sea Shepherd leader Watson skips bail fearing extradition to Japan
Sea Shepherd leader Paul Watson has skipped bail and fled from Germany, with his supporters claiming they fear he would have been extradited to Japan over Antarctic whaling protests.
Argentine organized labour divided but fearful of Cristina Fernandez intentions
Argentine union leaders said that the conflict inside the CGT umbrella organization is “purely political” and claimed that President Cristina Fernandez is after a “divided and passive” organized labour movement.
