Stories for January 18th 2007

Thursday, January 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Uruguay/US sign TIFA agreement next week

Uruguay and United States will sign next week a trade and investment agreement to strengthen and diversify bilateral trade relations announced in Washington John Veroneau, deputy chief of the US Trade Representative Office.
Thursday, January 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Growing complaints about Buquebus ferry service

Hundreds of passengers waiting to travel on the ferry shuttle between Buenos Aires and Montevideo suffered this week unexpected delays because of lack of vessels and stricter migration regulations for minors, admitted Buquebus, the company which has a virtual monopoly of the River Plate crossings.
Thursday, January 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Oil prices continue to slide

Oil prices dropped below US$ 51,80 a barrel to new 19-month lows yesterday on a report that OPEC powerhouse Saudi Arabia said further production cuts are not necessary right now.
Thursday, January 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Wanted: holiday rep to sell joys of Falklands tourism

The only direct flights are chartered by the RAF, and visitors to the beach are asked to keep an eye out for the landmines from the war, 25 years ago. But the Falkland Islands, with their clear skies, 500,000 pairs of penguins and an appealing sense of emptiness, have announced they are launching themselves on the world travel market.
Thursday, January 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Argentine Coast Guard rescues grounded cruise liner

A cruise vessel with 1.612 passengers, mostly from Brazil, finally managed Thursday early afternoon to pull off from a River Plate sand bank where she was grounded for over twenty hours.
Thursday, January 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Bank of Japan leaves basic rate unchanged at 0.25%

The Bank of Japan left Thursday its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 0.25%, following two days of deliberations and apparently appeasing government officials who say consumer spending and inflation are still too weak.
Thursday, January 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Air Plus Comet replaces Air Madrid in Latin America

Spanish airline Air Comet Plus will operate in seven Latin American countries previously covered by the now closed down Air Madrid airline. The operation was allowed after Spanish Public Works Minister Magdalena Alvarez and Air Comet president Gerardo Díaz signed an agreement.
Thursday, January 18th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
US consumer prices up 0.5% in December; 2.5% in 2006

The United States consumer price index increased 0.5% last December, the sharpest rise in eight months, ending 2006 at 2.5% which however is an improvement over the 3.4% of 2005, reported Thursday the US Labor Department.