Stories for February 3rd 2012

Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 18:25 UTC
Shell announces major investment drive to boost falling production

Royal Dutch Shell has said it will launch a major investment drive in an effort to boost falling production. The oil giant said it would spend 30bn dollars on new oil and gas projects this year, compared with 24bn in 2011.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 18:19 UTC
UK Energy secretary steps down charged with perverting the cause of Justice

Chris Huhne has quit as UK energy secretary after learning he was to be charged with perverting the course of justice over a 2003 speeding case. His ex-wife Vicky Pryce will face the same charge in relation to claims she accepted his penalty points.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 18:14 UTC
Uruguay inflation up 0.74% in January and 8.05% in the last twelve months

Uruguay's inflation rate rose in January 0.74% from December as housing, hotel and restaurant prices jumped, the national statistics agency, INE, reported this week. The consumer price index rose 8.05% on the year at the end of January, INE said.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 18:01 UTC
Aerolíneas receives a daily government support of over 2 million dollars

Argentina’s flag carrier ended the last twelve months with a drop in the number of passengers transported, totalling 6.017.886, which is 5.97% less than in 2010. However income from the sale of tickets reached 1.334 billion dollars, which is 14% higher, according to the latest numbers available.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 17:56 UTC
Brazilian minister travels to Argentina to discuss latest set of import obstacles

Brazilian Secretary of Foreign Trade Tatiana Prazeres will be travelling to Buenos Aires next Monday to address with Argentine counterparts the extent of the last set of measures implemented by the administration of President Cristina Fernandez to slow down the flow of imports.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 16:18 UTC
Deployment of Prince William in Falklands is a routine mission, says MoD

UK’s Defence Minister Philip Hammond reiterated Friday that the deployment of Prince Williams to the Falkland Islands is a routine mission planned long ago, and rejected suggestions the decision to send the heir to the throne to the region represented an escalation of the UK's position.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 06:16 UTC
UK warns Argentina on cutting off the air link of Falklands with South America

Britain warned Argentina against cutting off an air link to the Falklands as part of an economic blockade of the Islands, reports the Evening Standard. Buenos Aires is threatening to stop a weekly flight from Punta Arenas in Chile to Port Stanley by refusing permission for it to use Argentine airspace.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 06:12 UTC
Following on the Indian deal, France expects Brazil will purchase Rafale fighter jets

French Defence minister Gerard Longuet said that following on the deal to sell 126 Dassault Rafale fighter jets to India, Paris is hopeful it can seal a similar contract with Brazil.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 06:08 UTC
Malvinas dispute helps ‘to distract UK public opinion’ from serious domestic problems

The UK is taking advantage of the diplomatic conflict escalade with Argentina over the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute to distract public opinion from serious domestic problems such as unemployment, said Argentine Vice-president Amado Boudou.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 06:04 UTC
Moyano tells the government: no strikes planned, so far…but things could change

The head of Argentina’s organized labour CGT umbrella unions’ boss Hugo Moyano broke his silence to state his relationship with the Argentine government is “suspended” but dismissed for the time being, the possibility of staging a national strike.