Economy
EconomyIMF considers UK Chancellor Darling's forecast “optimistic”
Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer prediction on when the UK economy could start to recover may be “optimistic”, a director of the International Monetary Fund has said.
Record rice crop and stabilized prices for 2009
The world can expect another record crop of rice totalling 640 million tons, equivalent to 434 million tons of the elaborate grain, according to a report from Uruguay's Rice Planters association.
Record low Parana River threatens Argentine second city
The mighty Parana River, one of South America's main waterways which connect the River Plate with the heartland of Argentina, Brazil and landlocked Paraguay and Bolivia has reached a low of 1.02 meters of water just 9 centimetres from the all time record of 0.93 in 1917.
Brazil's 2008 trade surplus still strong but drops 38%
In spite of a record year of exports, Brazil's 2008 trade surplus reached 24.7 billion US dollars which is a significant 38% descent compared to the previous year when it totalled more than 40 billion US dollars.
Venezuela slashes US dollar quota
The Venezuelan government has cut the official number of dollars Venezuelans can spend abroad with their credit cards from $5,000 to $2,500 a year.
Uruguay: consumers must benefit from cheaper commodities
The Uruguayan government will intervene, if necessary, in the domestic market distribution chain to ensure that the full benefit of the falling international prices of commodities effectively reaches the consumer, announced several ministers following the Monday cabinet meeting.
Brazil openly admits trade surplus benefits from Mercosur
The lack of mechanisms to correct asymmetries and finance infrastructure projects are the biggest hurdles for Mercosur and Latinamerican integration, according to the Brazilian presidency main foreign policy advisor Marco Aurelio Garcia.
Paraguay GDP grows 5.8% in 2008; record per capita income
The Paraguayan GDP expanded 5.8% in 2008 with a good performance in almost all sectors and a record per capita income, according to preliminary figures from the Central Bank released this week.
Foreign tourists' arrivals in Spain fall 11.6% in Nov.
Arrivals of foreign tourists to Spain, the world's second biggest tourist destination, plummeted in November as top customers Britons and Germans stayed at home during the global economic slowdown.
Coal mining venture threatens Chilean Patagonia Island
A coal mining venture being considered for Chile's Region X Isla Guafo, off the southwest coast of Chiloé, is raising alarm bells among area scientists, indigenous groups and local fishermen who fear the endeavour could cause irreparable harm to the uninhabited island's diverse and abundant wildlife.
