Stories for January 2014

Friday, January 24th 2014 - 02:15 UTC
Argentina: in chaotic trading dollar jumps 12.4% in one day to 8 Pesos in the official market

In a day of chaotic trading the Argentine Peso on Thursday again plummeted against the US dollar losing 12.4% of its value in the official market, ending the day at just over 8 Pesos. In earlier operations the dollar was selling at 8,31 Pesos until the Central bank decided to intervene helping to cool the market.
Friday, January 24th 2014 - 02:11 UTC
Record hot January for Argentina with thermal factor 47.6 Celsius in Buenos Aires

January 2014 is becoming the hottest month in 53 years for Argentina with the thermal factor reaching an unbearable 47.6 Celsius mid afternoon before rain poured bringing some relief to most of the country an particularly in cement city Buenos Aires.
Friday, January 24th 2014 - 02:09 UTC
Argentine 2013 trade surplus down 27%, helping with the dollar shortage

Argentina's trade balance during 2013 left of surplus of 9.24 billion dollars, 27% less than in the previous year (12.42bn), according to the latest release from the official stats office, indec. Exports in the past year grew by 3% to reach a value of 83bn dollars, while imports rose by 8% and totaled just over 74bn.
Friday, January 24th 2014 - 02:07 UTC
Blatter confident it will be a great Cup, after meeting Brazil president Rousseff

FIFA president Sepp Blatter played down concern about sluggish World Cup preparations on Thursday, even when his deputy warned Curitiba must prove it can finalize work to remain a venue. Blatter met visiting Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff at FIFA headquarters in Zurich and the pair both made positive noises about Brazil's ability to deliver come the big kick-off on June 12.
Thursday, January 23rd 2014 - 23:36 UTC
Argentina after Israeli fighter planes; concern in London and Brasilia, says defense expert

Argentina is considering the purchase from Israel of 18 multipurpose combat aircraft Kfir Block 60 after negotiations with Spain for 16 Mirage F1 fighter bombers fell through, according to a report from Buenos Aires daily Clarin.
Thursday, January 23rd 2014 - 21:26 UTC
Panama Canal expansion will be completed in 2015 “no matter what”, says minister

Work to enlarge the Panama Canal will be completed in 2015 no matter what, Panamanian Finance Minister Frank De Lima said on Wednesday, despite the continuing feud over cost overruns with contractor GUPC. The Panama Canal authority “has strongly affirmed that the canal would be complete in 2015, with or without” the GUPC consortium, the minister told the media on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Thursday, January 23rd 2014 - 21:22 UTC
Christ the Redeemer head and hands under repairs but still open to the public

Repairs have begun on Brazil's Christ the Redeemer statue after lightning damaged the 38 meters statue's head, right finger and thumb. The iconic statue of Christ overlooking Rio de Janeiro was struck again last week during a violent storm, damaging its right thumb.
Thursday, January 23rd 2014 - 21:21 UTC
Brazil's vulnerable transport system again exposed as Rio commuter train accident sowed chaos

A commuter train in Rio de Janeiro left the tracks and hit a pole supporting power lines early Wednesday, causing no injuries but sowing widespread chaos across the overburdened public transportation system of Brazil's Olympic city which next June/July will host several World Cup matches.
Thursday, January 23rd 2014 - 20:57 UTC
Cristina Fernandez is back on stage and announces program to help the young unemployed

Forty two days after her last public speech, Argentine president Cristina Fernandez was back on stage on Wednesday evening on national television to criticize the media, question the opposition and announce a new social plan to aid young unemployed and encourage them to study.
Thursday, January 23rd 2014 - 10:38 UTC
Brazil 2013-job-creation was the poorest in a decade; unemployment at record low

Brazil's economy added the fewest net payroll jobs in a decade in 2013, a sign that three consecutive years of weak economic growth is weighing down the economy, according to the latest government data. However unemployment remains at record lows.