Stories for February 2011

Friday, February 11th 2011 - 20:16 UTC
Fruit and vegetables in Chile forecasted to soar 20% because of the drought

Chilean farmers and produce distributors estimate that prices will increase for some fruits and vegetables by as much as 10 to 20% within the next 60 days, due to water shortages in northern and central Chile.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 20:06 UTC
Falklands’ Rockhopper latest well strikes quality reservoir and samples of live oil

A well drilled by Rockhopper Exploration off the Falkland Islands struck a good quality reservoir that bodes well for further development in the area announced the UK explorer in a release.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 18:38 UTC
Brazil tightens mining legislation focused on local processing and jobs

Brazil announced an overhaul of the management of its mineral resources and booming mining industry geared to end what it describes as “reverse specialization” based on the export of raw unprocessed minerals with minimum benefit for local labour and processing industry.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 07:02 UTC
Opposition leader calls on Egyptian Army “to save the country now”

Major Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei warned of potential violent unrest after President Hosni Mubarak announced late Thursday he would not step down before the September elections.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:55 UTC
Corruption controversy: Argentine official calls US diplomats “a joke”

Argentina’s Cabinet Chief Aníbal Fernández is the latest high-ranking official to address the Wikileaks controversy after Spanish newspaper El País published several cables that denounced various corruption cases within the Cristina Fernández de Kirchner administration.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:52 UTC
Argentine business leaders urge government to “stop denying inflation”

The head of Argentina’ powerful Business Leaders Association (ADE) urged the government to “stop denying inflation” and rejected the notion that businessmen are responsible for price hikes.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:45 UTC
Tourist influx to Uruguay during January soars 40%

During January (summer high season) Uruguay received 413.780 tourists, 40% more than a year ago, with the Argentines leading the inflow, according to the latest figures released by Migration Office and the Ministry of Tourism.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:42 UTC
Brazil’ central bank forex surpass the 300 billion USD mark…but at a cost

Brazil's forex reserves surpassed the 300 billion US dollars mark for the first time ever this week according to the country's central bank as a result of recent heavy foreign exchange inflows and accelerated US dollar buying by the institution.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:29 UTC
Colombian oil and coal reserves attract Latam’s tycoons

Carlos Slim considered by Forbes Magazine the richest man in the world said he’s seeking to boost his investments in Colombia because of the country’s open policy on oil exploration, its mineral assets and growing middle class.
Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:24 UTC
Fearing food riots Bolivian President Morales abandons public event

Bolivian President Evo Morales was forced on Thursday to abandon a public event in the face of angry protests over food shortages and price rises. Morales was due to address a parade to commemorate a colonial-era uprising in the mining city of Oruro.