Stories for February 5th 2021

Friday, February 5th 2021 - 18:33 UTC
FAO's food prices index at its highest level since July 2014

Global food prices rose in January for the eighth consecutive month, led by cereals, vegetable oils and sugar, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 18:26 UTC
Brazil anticipates bumper soybean and corn crops despite late drought

Brazil expects to harvest bumper soybean and corn crops in spite of planting and harvesting delays in 2020. A drought late last year delayed sowing of Brazil’s soybeans, and excess rainfall disrupted harvesting in January. This delayed delivery of grain to trading companies and affected Brazil’s ability to export.
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 12:57 UTC
Argentine farmers on alert: government does not rule out more taxes on food exports

Despite a recent accord with the government regarding corn exports, Argentine farmers are again on alert following statements from officials who did not rule out the possibility of increasing taxes on food exports as part of its effort to control high inflation.
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 12:39 UTC
Argentine oil and gas activity picking up in Vaca Muerta shale deposits

$The number of frac stages in Vaca Muerta rose 39% to 662 in January from 477 in November$

Fracking activity in Vaca Muerta, Argentina shot up in January to its highest level in 17 months, according to the Argentine unit of Houston-based services company NCS Multistage.
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 12:25 UTC
Ecuador Sunday election, a return to heterodox populist economic policies?

Uncertain times ahead for Ecuador, if after four years of orthodox economic policies to try and balance government accounts and restructure foreign debt are followed by promises of heterodox economics and populist handouts.
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 12:16 UTC
All ready for Sunday elections in Ecuador: 13 million eligible to vote on Sunday

Ecuador is ready to go to the polls on Sunday to elect a successor to President Lenin Moreno and legislative members of the National Assembly (Congress) amid the coronavirus pandemic, the country’s National Electoral Council (CNE) announced on Thursday.
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 09:55 UTC
Fernandez and Bolsonaro expected to share a family photo on the 30th anniversary of Mercosur

Argentine ambassador in Brazil, Daniel Scioli, has confirmed what was advanced by Uruguayan president Luis Lacalle Pou during this week's meeting with his Brazilian counterpart Jair Bolsonaro, a meeting of Mercosur heads of state, sometime at the end of March. The summit will coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the trade block, which also includes Argentina and Paraguay.
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 09:20 UTC
Falklands-Munich, Lufthansa completes record-breaking flight

Yesterday at 1:24 pm the crew of the Lufthansa record-breaking flight received a very warm “welcome back” upon their return in Germany. After landing at Munich Airport, the Airbus A350-900 was greeted by the fire department with a water salute.
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 09:10 UTC
“Turn off the soundscape” plead marine animals, Science journal reports

A cacophony of industrial noise is disrupting marine animals' ability to mate, feed, and even evade predators, scientists warn. With rumbling ships, hammering oil drills, and booming seismic survey blasts, humans have drastically altered the underwater soundscape.
Friday, February 5th 2021 - 08:57 UTC
Mining giant Vale signs US$ 7bn settlement deal over Brumadinho disaster that killed more than 270 people

Brazilian mining giant Vale signed a settlement deal on Thursday to pay 37.7 billion reais (US$ 7 billion) to the state of Minas Gerais, following the collapse of a dam two years ago that devastated the city of Brumadinho and killed more than 270 people.