Uruguay

• Tuesday, August 26th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Spanish pulp group admits deforesting “error” in Uruguay

  

  Uruguay suspended a Spanish pulp mill forestry plans following the discovery the group had cleared hectares of natural forest to have it replaced by eucalyptus. An investigation will determine the fine and reparation work the ENCE group will have to undertake.

• Saturday, August 23rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Vazquez celebrates in Israel, Uruguay Independence Day

  

  Uruguay's President Tabaré Vazquez will be celebrating his country's independence day, August 25, in Israel, the first leg of a three country tour (Switzerland and South Korea) he is visiting with a high level official and business delegation.

• Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay: Organic wool has become the great challenge

  

  There is a strong growing demand in the world for “organic” wool and consumers are willing to pay a bonus, which is a promising advantage for Uruguay and its textile industry, said Pedro Otegui, one of the country's leading wool and textile exporters.

• Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay criticizes Mercosur tolerance of export taxes

  

  Uruguay's Economy minister Danilo Astori criticized export taxes and complained the fact Mercosur has allowed Argentina to apply them when “we all know this is a simple manipulation of the economy” which also has political effects.

• Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Insufficient calves and forage threaten Uruguay beef industry

  

  Uruguay which has been breaking beef export records for the last few years is facing growing difficulties in keeping the necessary calves' production level, while the large farmlands dedicated to agriculture keep expanding and forage sowing has been delayed because of lack of sufficient rains.

• Thursday, August 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay: 24 hour strike or one man's tour de force

  

  The Socialist government of Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez suffered on Wednesday its first 24 hour full strike called by the unions' movement which openly supports the ruling coalition.

• Wednesday, August 20th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay received 13.7% more tourists in first half of 2008

  

  In the first half of this year the number of overseas tourists arriving in Uruguay increased 13.7% compared to the same period in 2007, according to Benjamin Liberoff, chief advisor of the country's Ministry of Tourism.

• Tuesday, August 19th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay freezes activities of Spanish corp. for deforesting

  

  Uruguay ordered this week the temporary freezing of all activities of the Spanish pulp company ENCE, following the discovery of the uprooting of an 80 hectares patch of native forest which is strictly protected under Uruguayan law.

• Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Frozen fish narcotics export ring busted in Montevideo port

  

  Uruguay's fishing industry has come under the spotlight of the Montevideo and Spanish police narcotics departments following the arrest of a Spanish citizen and the discovery of containers to be exported with 300 kilos of cocaine hidden among the frozen fish.

• Sunday, August 17th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay's meat exports in seven months: 983 m. USD

  

  During the first seven months of this year Uruguay meat exports totaled 983 million US dollars, 54% higher than the same period in 2007, of which beef represents 84% and lamb 4%, according to the country's Nacional Institute of Meats, INAC.