Stories for July 3rd 2008

Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Forbes ranks Chile as tops in Latam in business

Forbes Magazine this week ranked Chile as the best Latin America country for doing business. Chile ranked 19th among all the world's countries, up nine notches compared to last year. Mexico ranked 43rd, Uruguay 44th.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Benchmark sentence for high ranking Pinochet era officer

A Chilean judge sentenced the former secret intelligence chief for General Augusto Pinochet to two life terms for the 1974 murder of Carlos Prat, former commander in chief of the Chilean Army, and his wife, Sofia Cuthbert. They were killed when a bomb placed under their car exploded as they returned home to their apartment in Buenos Aires.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Euro zone hikes basic rate to 4.25%; oil at new record

The European Central Bank hiked on Thursday its key rate 25 points to 4.25%. This is the first rise in a year and is geared to contain food and fuel prices that in June reached an annualized 4%, the highest since 1996.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UK Defence £ 3 billion contracts for two new aircraft carriers

Britain's Ministry of Defence signed this week contracts to build two future aircraft carriers, to be named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales, the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina exports 4.124 tons of ovine meat in five months

During the first five months of 2008, lamb and mutton exports from Argentina totaled 4.124 tons equivalent to 15.1 million US dollars which represents a 5% increase in volume and 19% in value, according to the latest statistics from SENASA, the Agro-food health and quality service.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Rockhopper reports losses but insists in 2009 drilling

Oil and gas explorer Rockhopper Exploration Plc. reported a wider full-year pretax loss and said its target is to drill between two and four wells on its offshore acreages in the Falkland Islands.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Food security in poor nations keeps degrading says FAO

Soaring food prices have pushed 50 million more people to go hungry, the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Thursday, calling for stepped-up global cooperation to boost food security in poor nations.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina unable to complete EU beef Hilton quota

For the first time in almost thirty years Argentina was unable to fulfill its high priced special cuts Hilton quota of beef for the European Union in the fiscal year which ended June 30.
Thursday, July 3rd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
In spite of farmers, Cristina K manages to iron double chins

In spite of adversity Argentine President Cristina Kirchner de Kirchner has time to prop her facial image in line with her hair dressing and ample wardrobe.