Stories for December 2010

Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 08:05 UTC
Argentina “surprised” US intelligence gathering was done by diplomatic channels

In what is considered to be the first official statement by the Argentine government in the Wikileaks scandal, Argentine ambassador to the UN Jorge Argüello said on Tuesday that the released documents “are a delicate matter that will put the US at least in an embarrassing position.”
Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 08:03 UTC
Brazil plans unmanned air surveillance along Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia borders

Rio do Janeiro media has disclosed that the Brazilian government wants to use unmanned air vehicles, VANT, along the border areas of neighbouring countries, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay and Colombia.
Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 07:51 UTC
China opens market to Argentine beef, barley, dairy produce and apples

China and Argentina have signed agreements to allow the import to China of de-boned beef, dairy products, apples, bamboo and barley, China's quarantine administration said on Wednesday. However no mention was made of an expected deal on corn.
Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 07:31 UTC
South America’s main naval show takes off in Chile; HMS Gloucester present

With the participation of delegations from 34 countries South America’s largest naval exposition was officially opened Tuesday in Valaparaíso. The seventh edition of ExpoNaval is scheduled to last until next Friday with business deals reaching 600 million US dollars according to the organizers.
Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 07:27 UTC
Euro at 11 month low and Portuguese banks face “intolerable risk”

The Euro remains near 11-month lows against the US dollar as European debt concerns continue to focus on Portugal. With the Portuguese government due to auction 500m Euros of bonds later, analysts are waiting to see the extent of market interest.
Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 07:14 UTC
Food industry in Brazil unable to fill 3.000 jobs with competent staff

In a clear signal of the lack of qualified labour which is suffering the booming Brazilian economy, the powerful Marfrig meats’ processing group admitted it was having difficulties to fill 3.000 vacancies with competent personnel.
Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 07:07 UTC
UK company secures contract to repair and maintain Chilean navy frigates

UK BAE Systems has secured a two year extended agreement with Chilean ship build and repair organisation ASMAR to provide support to the country's navy Type 22 and Type 23 frigates in a move that is set to enhance Chile's naval capability.
Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 07:01 UTC
Paraguayan leader toasts with mineral water the end of chemotherapy treatment

Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo and the team of Brazilian and Paraguayan doctors who are treating him for lymphatic cancer symbolically champagne-toasted with mineral water the last session of chemotherapy, which apparently has been successful.
Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 03:35 UTC
Brazil plans to cut subsidized long term loans to combat inflation

Brazil plans to cut funding for its state development bank by 50% in 2011 in an effort to bring down the world’s second-highest inflation-adjusted interest rates. The reduction in loans the government provides to BNDES, as the bank is known, forms part of a plan to curb public spending, Finance Minister Guido Mantega said in an interview in Brasilia.
Wednesday, December 1st 2010 - 03:30 UTC
Brazil’s natural gas production record in October: 65 million cubic metres per day

Brazil's natural gas output reached a record 65 million cubic meters a day in October, up 9.3% from the same month in 2009, Brazil's National Petroleum Agency, or ANP, said Tuesday. The gas output was also 1.64% higher than in September, ANP said.