Stories for January 2008

Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
World rice harvest and trading heading for a record year

World rice production is projected at a record 421.2 million tons (milled basis) in 2007/08, up less than 1% from a year ago, while global rice trading is forecasted to reach 29.6 million tons, up 3%, according to the latest reports from the US Department of Agriculture.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil denies yellow fever epidemic, but suggests vaccination

Brazil faces no risk of a yellow fever epidemic, despite an outbreak that killed two people last week in the capital, Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao said in Brasilia.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Former Paraguayan general confirmed as presidential candidate

The former commander of the Paraguayan Army General Lino Cesar Oviedo who was freed from jail last September was confirmed Sunday as presidential candidate for the opposition National Union of Ethical Citizens, Unace, in the coming April general election.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Renegade spy who devoted life to expose CIA dies in Cuba

Philip Agee, the former CIA operative who broke with the agency and devoted his life to exposing its role in political subversion, assassination, torture and support for military dictatorships, died January 7 in Cuba at the age of 72. Cuban sources said that he died of peritonitis after ulcer surgery.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Goldman Sachs predicts US recession and China slowdown

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., one of the world's leading investment banking and investment management firms lowered its forecast for China's 2008 GDP growth to 10% from 10.3%, due to an expected 2008 recession in the U.S.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Argentine per capita beef consumption reached 67.2 kilos

Beef consumption in Argentina in 2007 reached 67.2 kilos per capita, 10.4% over the previous year according to the country's Chamber of Meat Industry and commerce, Ciccra, which also predicts a strong domestic demand in 2008.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
US regulators probe into investment banks shares trading

United States securities regulators are reviewing whether investment banks' trades in shares of companies linked to merger and acquisition deals they were advising were based on coincidence or inside information, according to The Wall Street Journal on Monday.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Peru en route to become regional natural gas power

Spain's Repsol announced the discovery of a new gas deposit at block 57 in Peru's Cuzco department that holds 56.6 billion cubic meters. The discovery was made at exploratory well Kinteroni X1 where initial production tests have reached 1Mm3/d of gas and 198m3 of associated liquid hydrocarbons.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
US attempts to re-position relations with Argentina

United States seems intent in re-tracking relations with Argentina following the Kirchner administration fierce criticism of the US government for allegedly implementing a “garbage operation” to smear Argentine authorities.
Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Petrobras helps to fund Brazil's Antarctic operations

Brazil's government managed petroleum corporation Petrobras is involved in Antarctic research and development sponsoring the renewal of the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station, and the acquisition of research equipment for the Oceanographic Support Ship Ary Rongel.