MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Stories for October 5th 2007
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Friday, October 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News update
Headlines:
New comms deal for Camp; Drilling agreement: 'biggest oil event in 10 years'; Royal Marines on Islands exercise; Men back in court today -
Friday, October 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates visits Chile
As part of his five-nation tour through Latin America, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates met Thursday with his Chilean counterpart José Goñi Carrasco to discuss “defense issues of common interest” and to sign a bilateral agreement.
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Friday, October 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Soaring wheat prices cause food crises in poor countries
Up to 36 countries worldwide are facing food crises at a time when the price of wheat has hit record levels and stocks are described as worryingly low by the latest crop and food situation report published by the UN Friday.
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Friday, October 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil tightening on foreign purchase and ownership of land
Global liquidity in recent years has led to a boom, --and speculation--, in real estate and farming land in Mercosur member countries. Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay have seen land prices soar pushed by foreign buyers and now governments are reacting tightening restrictions on land ownership.
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Friday, October 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Crucial referendum on Sunday for Costa Rica and C. America
On Sunday Costa Rica votes on a crucial free trade agreement with the United States which has the country's electorate split almost equal, according to the latest public opinion polls. The situation could be of concern for the future of Central America's most stable democracy.
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Friday, October 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Ecuador willing to rework contracts with foreign oil companies
Ecuador offered on Friday to rework the contracts of foreign oil companies that object to a decree sharply reducing their share of windfall oil revenues. President Rafael Correa surprised companies on Thursday by decreeing that the government will take 99% of the profits gained when oil prices rise above contracted levels. Previously, it was a 50-50 split.
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Friday, October 5th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Federal Reserve cools hopes of second rate cut this month
The United States Federal Reserve Board Vice Chairman Donald Kohn said on Friday policy makers must be “nimble” in setting interest rates given the risks of both slower U.S. economic growth and faster inflation.
