Uruguay

• 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.

• Thursday, August 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Farming Systems Uruguay posts $US1.6 m profit

  

  New Zealand Farming Systems Uruguay today posted a net after tax profit of $US1.6 million ($NZ2.3m) for the year to June 30, boosted by earnings of $US8m from milk sales, at record prices of about US40c a litre.

• Thursday, August 14th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  “Exceptional” approval rating for Uruguay's president

  

  Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez approval rate stands at 56%, which is considered “exceptional” for Uruguayan politics, particularly since the leader of the ruling coalition is 18 months away from the end of his five year mandate.

• Tuesday, August 12th 2008 - 21:00 UTC

  Uruguay plans to regulate area dedicated to soy

  

  The Uruguayan government is planning to implement a program of permit-requests for the sowing of soybeans the coming season as part of a plan for the conservation of the soil sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.