Stories for February 17th 2011

Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 23:09 UTC
Bolivia’s powerful unions turn on President Morales to protest food prices

Bolivia’s powerful Workers Union, COB, called for a 24 hours general strike Friday against the government of President Evo Morales to protest food and public transport price hikes.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 23:01 UTC
Good harvest year for Argentina farmers and the tax man, in spite of drought

A good crop year for Argentine farmers and the government: export revenue will be up 4 billion US dollars and the tax man will bag an additional 888 million US dollars according to estimates from local grain dealers.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 22:54 UTC
Gold, silver, platinum soar on fears of growing inflation

Gold rose Thursday to a one-month high as rising consumer prices in United States and the UK boosted investor demand for an inflation hedge. Silver touched a 30-year high.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 22:50 UTC
London beats New York, Tokyo and Paris as the leading shopping city

London has beaten New York, Tokyo and Paris to become the world's highest grossing shopping city.
The UK capital, which boasts more big-name stores than any other, had the highest retail sales last year, with shoppers spending £62.4billion.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 22:30 UTC
IMF head scheduled to visit Uruguay and Brazil next March; skips Argentina

IMF Managing Director is scheduled to visit Uruguay next month where he will meet President Jose Mujica and his economic team before flying to Brazil. Dominique Strauss-Khan will arrive in Uruguay from Panama and is not scheduled to visit Argentina, according to Uruguayan government sources.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 03:51 UTC
First major legislative victory for Rousseff: keeps minimum wage on target

Brazil's Lower House approved Wednesday a government proposal to limit a minimum wage increase to 545 Real a month, handing President Dilma Rousseff her first major legislative victory.The proposal will be voted on in the Senate next week, where it is expected to be approved.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 03:46 UTC
First woman cop-chief for Rio do Janeiro 12.000 strong police force

A woman has been named to head Brazil’s Rio do Janeiro police department for the first time following a corruption scandal that led to the arrest of more than 30 police and military officials, officials said Wednesday.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 03:25 UTC
Brazil as concerned with the US dollar as with China’s Yuan

Brazil is as concerned about the decline of the U.S. dollar as it is about the Chinese currency and has no plans for a joint initiative with Washington to press China to let its currency appreciate faster, said Finance Minister Guido Mantega
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 03:22 UTC
International tourism influx to Argentina increased 27.1% during 2010

The number of foreign tourists visiting Argentina jumped 27.1% in 2010 compared to the year before, while dollars spent increased 25.9% according to air and sea arrivals and City of Buenos Aires numbers compiled by the country’s Statistics and Census Office, Indec.
Thursday, February 17th 2011 - 03:11 UTC
TAM Airlines maintained its market leadership in Brazil

The Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) has published its operational data for the month of January 2011.