Stories for June 24th 2011

Friday, June 24th 2011 - 22:58 UTC
China says it can control inflation and maintain robust growth

Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has said that China can control inflation and maintain its robust growth. Writing in the Financial Times, Mr Wen said “price rises will be firmly under control this year”.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 22:44 UTC
US economy expanded at a 1.9% annual pace in the first quarter

The United States economy grew at a 1.9% pace in the first quarter marking the start of what Federal Reserve policy makers anticipate is a temporary slowdown in growth.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 22:23 UTC
FIFA slams Brazil’s slow pace of preparation for the 2014 World Cup

Brazil's slow pace of preparation for the 2014 World Cup has come under attack from FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke. Stadium development plus work on airports and the transport system are lagging well behind schedule.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 22:15 UTC
Malaysia’ AirAsia sings 18.5bn USD contract for 200 A320neo

Malaysia’s AirAsia signed an 18.5 billion US dollars landmark deal for 200 A320neo Airbus, with an option for another 100, making AirAsia the biggest airline customer for the European corporations for the single-aisle product line worldwide.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 21:58 UTC
Croatia become the European Union 28th member; final ratification June 2013

European Union leaders said Croatia is ready to become the bloc’s 28th member, signalling peace in the Balkan region.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 21:50 UTC
Mercosur summit in Paraguay; Uruguay takes the chair for the next 6 months

Presidents from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador have confirmed they will be attending the Mercosur summit in Paraguay next June 28/29, when the rotating chair of the group for the next six months will pass on to Uruguay.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 20:15 UTC
Krugman: “when Argentina tried to act as a serious country, it was “a disaster”

Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman took to his blog in the New York Times to say he didn’t see how Argentina’s default could be seen as a cautionary tale for Greece, and questioned a local economist who assured Argentina was not considered “a serious country.”
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 19:59 UTC
Venezuela’s Chavez health and prolonged recovery turns into political controversy

Two weeks after surgery in Cuba, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is “stronger than ever” but will not rush home until he is ready, announced Defence minister General Carlos Mata Figueroa.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 19:46 UTC
Potassium mining project that could make Argentina top exporter is suspended

The government of the Argentine province of Mendoza is studying documents presented by Vale that could allow the Brazilian miner to continue with a 4.6 billion US dollars potassium project, said an official in Mendoza.
Friday, June 24th 2011 - 19:08 UTC
Argentina’s trade surplus in May rose 29%; imports soared 39%

Argentina's trade surplus in May rose 29% from the previous month, thanks to high prices for the country's exports of grains and manufactured goods, the national statistics agency said Thursday.