Stories for August 2008

Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
China, net food importer in cash terms so far this year

China became a net food importer in money terms in the first half of this year, as soaring food prices ate into its traditional surplus in agricultural goods. The swing into deficit largely reflects the surge in prices of commodity staples such as grain and soybeans.
Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UK economy growth grinds to standstill in second quarter

The United Kingdom economy ground to a standstill in the second quarter of 2008 with GDP registering no growth at all according to official figures released on Friday.
Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chile private copper sector overtakes government mines

Chile's private copper mining company Minera Escondida surpassed the traditionally dominant state-owned CODELCO in copper production and revenue for the first time in the first economic semester of 2008, Chilean daily El Mercurio reported this last weekend.
Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Two billion people suffer impact of Hepatitis B virus

The United Nations health agency is launching a new information campaign to highlight the impact of the hepatitis B virus, which is currently found in about 2 billion people worldwide despite being largely preventable by vaccine for more than 25 years.
Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
US inflation outlook “highly uncertain” says Fed' Bernanke

US Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said the inflation outlook for the country is “highly uncertain”. Rising prices, coupled with the effects of the credit crunch, had given the US economy a battering.
Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Uruguay criticizes Mercosur tolerance of export taxes

Uruguay's Economy minister Danilo Astori criticized export taxes and complained the fact Mercosur has allowed Argentina to apply them when “we all know this is a simple manipulation of the economy” which also has political effects.
Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazil's ultra-deep water oil deposits production in 2013

Brazil's state-run oil company Petrobras CEO Sergio Gabrielli said Friday he expects new ultra-deep-water finds to yield 100,000 barrels of oil a day by 2010 and announced the company would begin testing production in the fields next September 2 although “we don't expect the new fields to have a significant impact on oil production until 2013”.
Friday, August 22nd 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Insufficient calves and forage threaten Uruguay beef industry

Uruguay which has been breaking beef export records for the last few years is facing growing difficulties in keeping the necessary calves' production level, while the large farmlands dedicated to agriculture keep expanding and forage sowing has been delayed because of lack of sufficient rains.
Thursday, August 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Uruguay: 24 hour strike or one man's tour de force

The Socialist government of Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez suffered on Wednesday its first 24 hour full strike called by the unions' movement which openly supports the ruling coalition.
Thursday, August 21st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
PM Brown promises relief package for September

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised to deliver a package of economic measures for struggling Britons in September as he brushed off talk of challenges to his leadership and his party.