Stories for 2008

Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
IMF approves by wide margin vote and quota reforms

The IMF Board of Governors adopted by wide margin far-reaching reforms to increase the voting shares of a majority of the 185 member countries particularly the large emerging economies.
Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UN-World Bank task force to tackle global food crisis

The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is setting up a task force to tackle the global food crisis. Ban Ki-moon said the world faced “widespread hunger, malnutrition and social unrest on an unprecedented scale” because of soaring food prices
Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chile on the intellectual property “priority watch list”

For the second year in a row, Chile was placed on the intellectual property “priority watch list” released Friday in the US Trade Representative (USTR) annual “Special 301” report, which looks at intellectual property protection by US trading partners.
Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil's Vale and ArcelorMittal reach mega iron ore deal

Brazilian mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce announced this week it agreed to supply 480 million tons of iron ore and pellets to ArcelorMittal the world's largest steel maker.
Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil forecasts record production of sugar cane ethanol

Brazil is forecasting for this year its greatest production of sugar cane ethanol ever according to the country's National Supply Company, Conab. The total volume is estimated between 26.4 and 27.4 billion liters, 14.9% and 19.4% higher than in 2007.
Tuesday, April 29th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Benchmark US ruling on polar bears (and global warming)

A US federal judge has ordered the Interior Department to decide by May 15 whether polar bears should be listed as a threatened species because of global warming. The decision was hailed by conservation groups which have been hounding the US government on the issue for years.
Monday, April 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Transparency call for oil industry to help with “revenue puzzle”

A majority of leading oil and gas companies are far from transparent when it comes to the payments they make to resource-rich countries, leaving the door open to corruption and hampering efforts to fight poverty, according to a report published Monday by Transparency International (TI).
Monday, April 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Seven S. American countries launch the Bank of the South

South American Economy ministers agreed in Montevideo on an initial credit turnover of 20 billion US dollars for the regional development Bank of the South as well as each country member's contribution and credit access.
Monday, April 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Market talk of Shell's renewed interest in Falklands' oil

Borders & Southern Petroleum Plc from the UK and which explores for oil near the Falkland Islands rose in London trading on Monday on speculation Royal Dutch Shell Plc may make a takeover bid, according to Bloomberg News.
Monday, April 28th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Good performance of Paraguayan economy last year: 6.8

The Paraguayan economy boosted by the faro sector Grez 6.8% in 2007, which is higher than originally forecasted, 6.4%, according to the country's Central Band president German Rojas.