Stories for December 24th 2010

Friday, December 24th 2010 - 08:06 UTC
Uruguay under agriculture “state of emergency” because of lack of rains

The Uruguayan government declared Thursday an “agriculture state of emergency” because of the drought situation to the north of the country. The declaration opens the way to grant small farmers government support.
Friday, December 24th 2010 - 08:04 UTC
Uruguay’s Central bank leaves benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.5%

Uruguay’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.5% after annual inflation slowed to within policy makers’ target range, according to a statement posted on the bank’s website.
Friday, December 24th 2010 - 07:59 UTC
China prepared to support Euro zone, buying sovereign Greek and Portuguese bonds

China said on Thursday it was willing to support Euro zone countries through the region's debt crisis. “We are ready to support the Euro zone countries to overcome the financial crisis and realize economic recovery,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters.
Friday, December 24th 2010 - 07:54 UTC
Repsol sells 3.3% of YPF for 500 million USD

Spain's oil major Repsol YPF said on Thursday it had sold 3.3% of its Argentine unit YPF to investment funds for 500 million US dollars as part of an effort to redirect investments to less mature markets.
Friday, December 24th 2010 - 07:47 UTC
Argentina’s November industrial production up 8.8%, says private index

Argentina's industrial production in November continued to grow at record levels, with output jumping 8.8% on the year, according to the monthly index published by local think tank Fiel on Thursday.
Friday, December 24th 2010 - 07:42 UTC
US census shows West and South gaining the most population and clout

The United States Census Bureau announced that the 2010 Census showed the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2010, was 308,745,538. The resident population represented an increase of 9.7%over the 2000 U.S. resident population of 281,421,906.
Friday, December 24th 2010 - 07:37 UTC
China defends soaring economic and trade relations with Africa

China has defended its economic and trade relations with African nations. In the first policy paper on the subject, Beijing said China-Africa co-operation helped Africa to reach the UN Millennium Development Goals, and boosted common prosperity and progress.
Friday, December 24th 2010 - 07:30 UTC
Japanese Fishing Agency officials admit taking “gifts” of whale meat

After more than two and half years of pressure by Greenpeace and the famous “Tokyo Two” trials, officials with the Japanese Fishing Agency publicly admitted Thursday that they received whale meat as “gifts” from private companies contracted by the government to slaughter whales, reports Greenpeace USA blog.
Friday, December 24th 2010 - 07:25 UTC
Serious rioting in Buenos Aires leaves thousands of trainl commuters stranded

Serious rioting broke out Thrusday in the heart of Buenos Aires when protesting outsourced workers interrupted railway services in one of the main central stations, Constitucion, which then triggered a furious reaction from passengers. Law enforcement officials were surprised by the intensity and extent of the rioting that left several policemen and civilians injured and tens of arrests.
Friday, December 24th 2010 - 07:02 UTC
UK ratifies full support for Falklands’ sovereignty, economic development and defence

Prime Minister David Cameron ratified full and resolute British commitment to the Falkland Islands sovereignty and to the development of its economy and defence. However he also admitted that “it is in all our interests that we maintain a constructive working relationship with Argentina”.