Stories for January 2010
Brazil moving closer to accepting Honduran president Lobo
Brazil sees a positive attitude and a good indication of “reconciliation” attempts by the recently inaugurated Honduran president Porfirio Lobo. “The new president acted in a politically positive manner when he negotiated a safe conduct for the deposed president, Manuel Zelaya”, said Foreign Affairs minister Celso Amorim.
Making science simple: “An Angler’s guide to Fish Behaviour’
Every fisherman will remember a time when a change in the weather coincided with a surge or lull in fish feeding behaviour. Whatever the species and whatever the weather event there is no doubt about the dramatic and immediate influence the weather can have on a fisherman’s catch.
Insurance levy on banks to protect tax payers pockets
An insurance levy on financial institutions to help bail out banks in any future financial crisis has been backed at the World Economic Forum. Politicians and bankers have expressed support for the idea, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described it as “practical”.
Uruguay’s budget deficit in 2009, highest since 2003 pushed by energy costs
Uruguay’s 2009 fiscal budget deficit soared to its highest since 2003 pushed by higher power generation costs and the import of dearer energy according to the official release from the Ministry of Finance. The total is equivalent to 2.1% of GDP and 50% higher than in 2008, which was 1.4% of GDP.
Brazil promotes agribusiness trade with Arab countries
Brazilian agribusiness exports to Arab countries generated 6.86 billion US dollars in 2009 last year, 14% over 2008, according to figures from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade and compiled by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. This in spite of the factor that total agribusiness sales dropped 9.8%.
Latinamerican teenagers love fast food and are increasingly obese
Chilean teenagers are becoming obese due to increasing fast food consumption while those from Mexico, Venezuela and Guatemala are not far behind.
Lady Thatcher’s 28 eggs a week diet in anticipation of 1979 election
Lady Thatcher was eating up to 28 eggs a week as part of a high-protein diet in the run-up to the 1979 general election, newly-released files suggest. Intended to help her shed 9 kilos in two weeks, the diet is outlined in a note found in a diary from that year.
Closer ties Australia/Chile now also include tax treaty
Australia announced last week the first tax treaty with Chile. Nick Sherry, Assistant Treasurer of Australia, announced that Australia and Chile had reached agreement on a new tax treaty. The proposed treaty, the first between the two countries, will reflect the economic, legal and cultural interests of each.
Dilma Rousseff finally says Yes and wants to be “Lula da Silva’s successor”
Brazilian cabinet chief Dilma Rousseff, (62) hand picked by President Lula da Silva as the ruling coalition’s candidate for next October presidential election, finally openly admitted that “yes” she would love to be nominated as the popular leader’s “successor”.
Haiti arrests US nationals suspected of child smuggling
Haitian police have arrested 10 US nationals on suspicion of trying to illegally take 33 children abroad.
