Stories for February 11th 2011
US trade deficit soars 33% in 2010 as China imports hit record level
The US trade deficit widened in December to its highest level in four months, the US government said in a report that also showed the annual trade gap expanded nearly 33% in 2010 as imports from China hit record levels.
Switzerland freezes assets that may belong to ex President Mubarak
Switzerland has frozen assets that may belong to Hosni Mubarak, who stepped down on Friday as president of Egypt after 30 years of rule, the foreign ministry said.
Chile and Uruguay on the path to nuclear energy, confirms AIEA
Chile and Uruguay and another fifteen countries have officially presented plans to the International Atomic Energy Agency for the construction of nuclear plants, revealed AIEA following a four-day meeting on the issue in Vienna.
Fruit and vegetables in Chile forecasted to soar 20% because of the drought
Chilean farmers and produce distributors estimate that prices will increase for some fruits and vegetables by as much as 10 to 20% within the next 60 days, due to water shortages in northern and central Chile.
Falklands’ Rockhopper latest well strikes quality reservoir and samples of live oil
A well drilled by Rockhopper Exploration off the Falkland Islands struck a good quality reservoir that bodes well for further development in the area announced the UK explorer in a release.
Brazil tightens mining legislation focused on local processing and jobs
Brazil announced an overhaul of the management of its mineral resources and booming mining industry geared to end what it describes as “reverse specialization” based on the export of raw unprocessed minerals with minimum benefit for local labour and processing industry.
Opposition leader calls on Egyptian Army “to save the country now”
Major Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei warned of potential violent unrest after President Hosni Mubarak announced late Thursday he would not step down before the September elections.
Corruption controversy: Argentine official calls US diplomats “a joke”
Argentina’s Cabinet Chief Aníbal Fernández is the latest high-ranking official to address the Wikileaks controversy after Spanish newspaper El País published several cables that denounced various corruption cases within the Cristina Fernández de Kirchner administration.
Argentine business leaders urge government to “stop denying inflation”
The head of Argentina’ powerful Business Leaders Association (ADE) urged the government to “stop denying inflation” and rejected the notion that businessmen are responsible for price hikes.
Tourist influx to Uruguay during January soars 40%
During January (summer high season) Uruguay received 413.780 tourists, 40% more than a year ago, with the Argentines leading the inflow, according to the latest figures released by Migration Office and the Ministry of Tourism.
