Copyright (c) 2004 Prensa Latina s.a. All rights reserved.http://www.plenglish.comEconomyENinter@prensa-latina.cuWed, 20 Aug 2008 18:48:55 GMT1http://www.plenglish.comhttp://www.plenglish.com/images/rsslogo.gifarticle.asp?ID={55E97989-F0F0-40C3-9DEA-52E7C55092BA}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={55E97989-F0F0-40C3-9DEA-52E7C55092BA}&language=EN8/20/2008 12:10:52 PMCaracas, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) Venezuelan authorities reported total normality in the cement industry Wednesday, one day after the government took control of the sector as part of a national development program.article.asp?ID={08D6961F-B948-4410-BC09-055C1420EB3A}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={08D6961F-B948-4410-BC09-055C1420EB3A}&language=EN8/20/2008 10:54:42 AMSanta Cruz, Bolivia, Aug 20 (Prensa Latina) The First International Congress on Gas and Energy opened Wednesday in the eastern Bolivian city of Santa Cruz.article.asp?ID={3FE18637-72BF-4CDC-92E3-4A4BAC9C9BA7}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={3FE18637-72BF-4CDC-92E3-4A4BAC9C9BA7}&language=EN8/19/2008 7:00:46 PMCaracas, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) The government of Venezuela seized control of the national cement industry amid joy in the population, and hopes to overcome the housing deficit. article.asp?ID={07700FD7-FF79-418F-8D69-74D5C1A45CBB}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={07700FD7-FF79-418F-8D69-74D5C1A45CBB}&language=EN8/19/2008 5:16:15 PMAsuncion, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) Uruguayan President Fernando Lugo appreciated the gesture of over a dozen transportation businesspeople, who decided to exempt indigenous people from paying bus fares.article.asp?ID={59775E57-298A-4BCF-A601-FE3CFCE30589}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={59775E57-298A-4BCF-A601-FE3CFCE30589}&language=EN8/19/2008 3:34:05 PMHavana, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) Early forecast of weather phenomena, supported by the Civil Defense directions and people's discipline to fulfill them reduced damages caused by tropical storm Fay. article.asp?ID={D9542278-E52B-403E-9E77-2FDD6A32BFAC}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={D9542278-E52B-403E-9E77-2FDD6A32BFAC}&language=EN8/19/2008 12:27:51 PMLondon, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) As concern over tropical storm Fay faded, oil prices fell to around $112 on Tuesday.article.asp?ID={EB5C08F3-E89F-4C67-8755-92450FCF3398}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={EB5C08F3-E89F-4C67-8755-92450FCF3398}&language=EN8/19/2008 8:30:15 AMCaracas, Aug 18 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela started a plan to condone an $115 million debt of 18,000 rice, corn, coffee and potato producers unable to honor their debt due to adverse climate. article.asp?ID={F5D1FBF6-251B-4379-9DFC-531309864A2A}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={F5D1FBF6-251B-4379-9DFC-531309864A2A}&language=EN8/18/2008 11:12:32 PMHavana, Aug 18 (Prensa Latina) Tropical storm Fay is farther away from Cuba, but left behind rains associated to this meteor still falling over the central provinces, said Cuban Weather Forecast center at midday Monday.

Fay Exits Cuba, Now in Florida Strait

article.asp?ID={7EE1A586-2069-48F9-A3B5-29D13EB565C3}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={7EE1A586-2069-48F9-A3B5-29D13EB565C3}&language=EN8/18/2008 5:37:16 PMCaracas, Aug 18 (Prensa Latina) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Monday the fight against large estates has to continue so as to increase agricultural production in the country and drop food imports levels.article.asp?ID={C20E73E2-24C6-44D6-9BB5-0D978818BA16}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={C20E73E2-24C6-44D6-9BB5-0D978818BA16}&language=EN8/18/2008 5:11:53 PMMexico, Aug 18 (Prensa Latina) High cost of living has pushed eight million Mexicans into poverty in the last two years, according to CNC (National Farmers Confederation) leader Cruz Lopez Aguilar. article.asp?ID={BDCC6D39-4201-44BA-BFD2-D96EDED49027}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={BDCC6D39-4201-44BA-BFD2-D96EDED49027}&language=EN8/17/2008 10:04:26 PMMontevideo, Aug 17 (Prensa Latina) High level delegations from Venezuela and Uruguay are expected to review bilateral relations Sunday and explore new cooperation fields.article.asp?ID={8ADA57C6-3E65-4ED6-84F1-F163390C83A6}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={8ADA57C6-3E65-4ED6-84F1-F163390C83A6}&language=EN8/16/2008 11:54:14 AMMexico, Aug 16 (Prensa Latina) The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has resulted in Mexico losing its food sovereignty and increased poverty, experts warned in this capital.article.asp?ID={60B1EA00-8BC3-4A6A-9783-5D81433956D1}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={60B1EA00-8BC3-4A6A-9783-5D81433956D1}&language=EN8/16/2008 10:44:52 AMCaracas, Aug 16 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela has taken new actions to guarantee food sovereignty and security amid the world crisis that is threatening to kill millions of people of hunger.article.asp?ID={D4F9DED8-F6CE-4397-817F-5D6E975DD6B6}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={D4F9DED8-F6CE-4397-817F-5D6E975DD6B6}&language=EN8/15/2008 10:54:53 PMCaracas, Aug 15 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela says it will start prospecting late in September in west Venezuela, including Tachira that pioneered national oil era over 100 years ago.article.asp?ID={BA690B48-2001-4FD2-B20C-024200941B23}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={BA690B48-2001-4FD2-B20C-024200941B23}&language=EN8/15/2008 7:18:46 PMHavana, Aug 15 (Prensa Latina) Cuba was reelected to the Postal Administration and Exploitation Council of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in recognition of its prestige in different international cooperation entities.article.asp?ID={236E632A-1B88-49AC-8819-6DA13C6CC328}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={236E632A-1B88-49AC-8819-6DA13C6CC328}&language=EN8/15/2008 5:07:11 PMMexico, Aug 15 (Prensa Latina) The upward trend in food prices in recent months has reoriented Mexicans' consumption and reduced retail sales as a consequence.article.asp?ID={741B74D8-2E6A-491E-8562-E90F596D1322}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={741B74D8-2E6A-491E-8562-E90F596D1322}&language=EN8/15/2008 3:56:29 PMTehran, Aug 15 (Prensa Latina) The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) rejected US threats of blockading any member state to force Iran to stop its program of nuclear technology for peaceful ends.article.asp?ID={754168A6-91DC-4C42-BC0D-4F360EF130C9}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={754168A6-91DC-4C42-BC0D-4F360EF130C9}&language=EN8/15/2008 3:39:10 PMLondon, Aug 15 (Prensa Latina) US excess credit creation in the last decade, has been a policy failure of historic proportions, according to Byron W. King quoted by online news service Money Morning. article.asp?ID={F38BE868-4CF7-4711-BCF4-0D1AFCAF0FC1}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={F38BE868-4CF7-4711-BCF4-0D1AFCAF0FC1}&language=EN8/15/2008 2:23:49 PMCaracas, Aug 15 (Prensa Latina) Venezuela will invest $13 billion in six years in the national electric sector, to build new conduction systems, power generating and hydroelectric stations, the National Electric Corporation announced on Friday.article.asp?ID={E08A7173-F0A8-4976-B174-21D60665E7E5}&language=ENarticle.asp?ID={E08A7173-F0A8-4976-B174-21D60665E7E5}&language=EN8/15/2008 2:17:09 PMVienna, Aug 15 (Prensa Latina) The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reported today that world oil demand growth is estimated at 1.17 percent in 2008, instead of 1.20 previously expected.