Stories for December 8th 2004

Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

FOGL doubles oil acreage and seismic surveying

Falkland Oil and Gas Limited (“FOGL”) announced Tuesday that it has been awarded an offshore production licence for an additional 50,000 sq km by the government of the Falkland Islands; the licence area is adjacent to its existing licences where FOGL is in a Joint Venture with Hardman Resources from Australia. A 2D seismic survey program extensive to the whole acreage is scheduled to begin this summer.

Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Mexican candidate for OAS Secretary General

Salvadoran President Antonio Saca said in Miami that Central America will unite behind one candidate for the Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General post but refused to comment the candidacy of Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez.

Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Brazilian government promises to declassify military documents

The Brazilian government said this week it would comply with a court ruling to open military archives on a guerrilla group which operated in the Amazon's Araguaia region and was annihilated by the then-dictatorship in the early 1970s.

Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Falkland Gold and Minerals share offer oversubscribed

Last November 25, Falkland Gold and Minerals Limited ('FGML') announced an offer for subscription ('Offer') to raise up to £2,000,000 through the issue of up to 5,000,000 Ordinary Shares of 0.002p each at 40p per share ('Ordinary Shares'). This followed an institutional placing which raised £8 million.

Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

US-Colombia controversy with “Chess Master”

Colombia and the United States government have been forced into a controversy regarding the conditions on which a notorious Colombian drug lord was extradited to Miami to face trial.

Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Chavez signs controversial press law

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed Wednesday the controversial “Radio and Television Social Responsibility Act” which he described as a “libertarian” landmark and the opposition condemned it as “gag rule.”

Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Pascal Lamy, EU candidate for head of WTO

The European Commission decided Tuesday to formalize the candidacy of former EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy as the future head of the World Trade Organization, WTO.

Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

EU/Mercosur contacts “have been re-established”

European Union-Mercosur trade talks will continue stagnant until next March when a ministerial meeting is scheduled. Negotiators from both sides were unable last week to agree on a calendar of talks and will be meeting again at the beginning of 2005 to arrange the ministerial summit.

Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Bright economic outlook for Latinamerica

Inter-American Development Bank, IDB, CEO Enrique Iglesias said in Miami that the area will end 2004 with a far higher economic performance than “we expected at the beginning of the year” mainly because of sustainable economic policies and China's appetite for commodities.

Wednesday, December 8th 2004 - 20:00 UTC

Tariff differences between Chile and Andean Community

Chile's insertion in the Community of Andean Nations, CAN (Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela) is “rather complicated” because Chile's external tariffs are far lower than the rest of those countries, said Chilean president Ricardo Lagos.