Stories for July 1st 2010

Thursday, July 1st 2010 - 21:10 UTC
Construction slump in Punta Arenas lifts unemployment to 6%

Unemployment in the extreme south of Chile, Magallanes Region, increased for the second mobile quarter running and now stands at 6% with construction industry receiving the heaviest blow, according to the latest release from the regional Statistics Office, INE.
Thursday, July 1st 2010 - 21:05 UTC
MP Laing, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Gibraltar Group

British Conservative MP Elainor Laing is the new chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Gibraltar Group, a House of Commons spokesman announced Wednesday night. Mrs Laing is no stranger to the Rock as she attended the main National Day rally when it was organised in Casemates Square.
Thursday, July 1st 2010 - 21:00 UTC
Meryl Streep considering playing Margaret Thatcher with Director Lloyd

Hollywood Academy Award winning actress Meryl Streep is planning a reunion with her “Mamma Mia!” director, Phyllida Lloyd: Streep is in talks to play controversial former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Thursday, July 1st 2010 - 07:26 UTC
Lula da Silva signs bill for the capitalization of Petrobras

The bill governing the capitalization of Brazilian energy giant Petrobras was approved Wednesday by President Lula da Silva. It is the first step to establish the new regulatory framework for exploiting crude oil under the pre-salt layer of the continental seabed of Brazil.
Thursday, July 1st 2010 - 07:22 UTC
Latinamerica, one of the very few benefiting from Spain’s EU presidency

Spain's ambitious six-month presidency of the EU was eclipsed by the European debt crisis which thrust the country's fragile economy into the global spotlight and weakened the Spanish government, analysts said.
Thursday, July 1st 2010 - 07:12 UTC
“This is no soccer match, only both sides must benefit”, says Timerman

Argentina’s Foreign Affairs minister Héctor Timerman cautioned that the dispute with Uruguay over the Botnia/UPM pulp mill and its environmental impact can’t be seen as “a football match where one side wins and the other looses”, but rather as a situation where “the peoples of both countries benefit”.
Thursday, July 1st 2010 - 07:08 UTC
Argentina prepares to begin drilling in Malvinas basin in second half of 2010

Towards the end of the year Argentina’s YPF in association with Pan American Energy and Petrobras will begin exploring for oil in the Malvinas basin, following the contract for an oil rig which has been signed, according to oil industry sources in Buenos Aires.
Thursday, July 1st 2010 - 07:03 UTC
Japanese group secures iron-ore supply with stake in Brazilian steel foundry

Usinas Siderurgicas de Minas Gerais SA, Brazil’s second-largest steelmaker, agreed to sell a stake in its mining and railroad businesses to Sumitomo Corp. for 1.93 billion US dollars before a possible share offering in the unit.
Thursday, July 1st 2010 - 06:57 UTC
Brazilian opposition picks young, fresh face as Vice-president candidate

Congressman Indio da Costa of the opposition Democrats party was named Brazilian presidential candidate Jose Serra’a running mate. The move is geared to retake the initiative in the campaign to October 3 presidential polls which now have incumbent Dilma Rousseff ahead.
Thursday, July 1st 2010 - 06:52 UTC
Chilean wine retailer to promote sales in Peru, Brazil and Colombia

Three months after opening its newest store in Chile, The World of Wines - a key Chilean wine retailer – is looking to expand throughout the region.