Stories for January 2007

Monday, January 8th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Lavagna with “slim” chances of beating incumbent candidate

Former Argentine Minister of Economy Roberto Lavagna could become “the main opposition candidate” but his chances of winning October's presidential elections are “slim” said a reputed Argentine political analyst and public opinion polls expert
Sunday, January 7th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
OAS Insulza and Venezuela on collision course

Venezuela called on the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza to retract from “censorship” statements regarding the controversy over a television station license in Caracas.
Saturday, January 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Bolivia instruments gas agreement with Argentina

Bolivia's government owned petroleum corporation YPFB will be announcing next week companies interested in supplying natural gas to Argentina following on the agreement recently signed and extending until 2026.
Saturday, January 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Ambitious project to recover Uruguay's flag carrier

The international investment group which is capitalizing Uruguay's flag air carrier PLUNA plans to balance the deficit ridden company by the end of this year with a five to six months “restructuring plan” to be implemented once the incorporation of the group is signed at the end of January.
Saturday, January 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Kirchner's obsession with one digit inflation and subsidies

Argentina managed in 2006 to keep inflation below the two digits (9.8%) as promised earlier in the year, but the Buenos Aires press reveals the cost of such an achievement: the equivalent of 1.47 billion US dollars in Treasury handouts to keep the most sensitive items in the consumers and wholesales indexes in line with the target.
Saturday, January 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Chile's corruption case leaves Bachelet unscathed

Recent corruption cases plaguing the ruling Concertación coalition have had little effect on the public popularity of Chile's President Michelle Bachelet, according to a poll carried out by the Centre for Public Studies (CEP).
Saturday, January 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Argentina, Mexico in deal to boost trade by 350 million dollars

A new accord between Argentina and Mexico has come in force as from January 1st whereby they increased to about 1,500 the number of bilateral trade products with a sliding scale that will lead to zero tariff in ten years time, Argentina's Foreign Affairs ministry said.
Saturday, January 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Brazil's industry expands 3.1% in 11 months

Brazil's manufacturing production accumulated 3.1% growth in the first eleven months of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005, which happened to be exactly the same as 2005 over 2004, reported the Brazilian Geography and Statistics Institute, IBGE.
Saturday, January 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Controversy erupts over intended cuts in Royal Navy

Controversy erupted in Britain following reports in the London press that the Royal Navy will experience a drastic cut to its surface fleet and promotion for RN officers is to be frozen for five years as a result of cost cutting measures.
Saturday, January 6th 2007 - 20:00 UTC
Argentine peso, 25% below “equilibrium exchange point”

Five years after the melting of the Argentine economy and one of the country's major financial setbacks including a massive devaluation, Argentina has the least valued currency against the US dollar, according to a panel of economists from J P Morgan investment bank.