Stories for October 2007
FT mocks Mrs. K devotion to foreign travel
The Buenos Aires Financial Times office wrote a scathing article about the Argentine First Lady and presidential candidate Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner saying she devotes so much time to foreign travel during her election campaign that it almost looks as though “she is running for a job at the United Nations, not the presidency of Argentina”.
Inflation and strong currency threaten Peruvian economy
As several other commodity-exports dependent countries in South America, Peru's economy is booming growing at an estimated 8%, following last year's 7.6%. However this success and the massive influx of US dollars is distorting monetary policy and delaying an improved wealth distribution.
New controversy with Brazil's air traffic control system
Brazil's top aviation official on Thursday rebuffed charges by the head of an international air traffic controllers organization who said it was only “a question of time” before there was a new air disaster in Brazil.
New phone service and broadband for Falklands Camp
Falkland Islands Camp residents will have access to a new and upgraded telephone service, offering broadband, from mid-late 2009, according to a Thursday joint release in Stanley from the Falklands government and Cable and Wireless South Atlantic Ltd.
“Risk reappraisal” leaves Euro rate unchanged at 4%
The Governing Council of the European Central Bank meeting in Vienna decided to leave interest rates unchanged at 4%. The decision comes despite the strength of the Euro against the US dollar and calls from some European leaders to cut rates and boost European competitiveness.
Interest rate in UK on hold at 5.75%; eyes set on November
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted Thursday to maintain UK interest rates on hold at 5.75%. The decision comes despite pressure to follow the example of the US Federal Reserve to cut the cost of borrowing and help with the credit crunch.
iPod sale: try Hong Kong, US but avoid South America
Want to buy an iPod? Try Hong Kong and if in Europe, Switzerland, and if in the Americas, United States or Canada but please avoid Brazil. That is the suggestion of Commonwealth Bank, one of Australia's largest, which checked the cost of a digital music 4GB iPodNano in 55 different countries.
Incipient political dialogue between US and Venezuela
Top diplomats from Venezuela and United States held talks aimed at improving relations, discussing a possible visit to Caracas by Washington's leading envoy for the Americas. Relations between the two countries have been tense for years.
Argentina closer to an agreement on Paris Club debt
Argentina is considering submitting a report on its economic program to the International Monetary Fund to help unblock negotiations on its 6.3 billion US dollars debt with the Paris Club, a government official said yesterday.
Business newspapers on website for free competition
Pearson, the world's largest education publisher announced this week it was partially opening up free access to its Financial Times newspaper as it adopted a new online business model.
