Stories for April 8th 2010
US/China hold talks on “economic relations” and global situation
US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner held talks Thursday in Beijing with Vice-Premier Wang Qishan. Neither the US nor Chinese officials would comment in detail on the meeting. But it is understood to be part of a long-running dispute over the value of the Chinese Yuan, which the US says has been kept artificially low.
OECD votes for PM Brown and fourth Labour term
Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s bid for a fourth Labour term received a boost this week with a forecast that the UK would pull out of recession faster than many major international rivals.
Euro zone interest rates at record-low 1% for eleventh month
The European Central Bank (ECB) has kept the Euro zone interest rate at its record-low level of 1% for the 11th month in a row. The decision was expected and comes as the ECB is scaling back its lending to banks aimed at stimulating the economy.
Indian-UK company develops multi-billion iron ore project in Brazil
Dow Jones reported that Indian-owned UK based Zamin Resources has one major iron ore project under way in Brazil and is keen on developing others in the country and neighboring Uruguay.
Latest mudslide may have killed 200 people in Rio do Janeiro
A landslide in a Rio de Janeiro satellite city may have killed 200 people as rains that started earlier this week continue to saturate the soil of the hilly region home to 12 million people, the state’s civil defense office said on Thursday.
Punta Arenas school children receive wood pieces instead of laptops
Chile’s Ministry of Education has ordered an administrative and criminal investigation into the disappearance of laptops to be distributed among school children.
Latam main ports’ containers activity contracted 6.8% in 2009
The 2009 global slowdown had an impact on the activity of the main ports of Latinamerica and the Caribbean, points out the latest release from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, Cepal.
Uruguay Argentina agree hake ban in common fisheries zone
The Joint Technical Commission for the Argentine-Uruguay Maritime Front (CTMFM) established an autumn ban for the common hake (Merluccius hubbsi) fishery in the Common Fishing Zone (ZCP), shared by Argentina and Uruguay. The measure became effective 7 April to 30 June 2010.
Surface drilling company confirms magnetite project in Uruguay
Cougar Metals NL announced it has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Indian owned UK based Zamin Ferrous Resources to provide 75,000 metres of surface drilling at the resource company’s magnetite project in Uruguay.
Bank of England ratifies current monetary policy
The Bank of England kept on Thursday the interest rate on hold and announced no change to current monetary policy. The cost of borrowing has now stayed at 0.5% for more than a year as the Bank's Monetary Policy Committee attempts to keep a fragile recovery on track.


