
Iran made major imports of Argentine soy-oil and soybeans between July and September as Iranian buyers found methods of making payments in the face of western sanctions, Hamburg-based oilseeds analysts Oil World said on Tuesday.

A weak global economy, mainly due to the difficulties faced by Europe, United States and China has affected growth in Latin America and the Caribbean. In 2012 the original growth estimate will fall from 3.7% to 3.2%, according to the latest estimate from the UN Economic Commission for Latinamerica and the Caribbean.

A United Nations-backed initiative that will form partnerships among governments, development agencies and universities has been launched to better understand how aquaculture can help low-income countries fight hunger.

Argentine President Cristina Fernández again denied the existence of money exchange restrictions over the purchase of dollars by explaining that “Argentina has already paid 79.8 billion dollars so far this year”.

Argentina's federal government has ordered supermarkets to offer a basket of 300 basic products at low prices amid a backdrop of what many economists say is one of the highest rates of inflation in the Americas.

In developing countries, jobs are a cornerstone of development, with a pay off far beyond income alone. They are critical for reducing poverty, making cities work, and providing youth with alternatives to violence, says a new World Bank report.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke delivered a broad defence on Monday of the central bank's controversial bond-buying stimulus plan, saying its actions are necessary to support a flagging economic recovery.

The latest Uruguayan central bank decision to further hike interest rates is “unlikely to do much to tackle stubbornly high inflation” and contrary to this could end acting as a magnet for foreign capital inflow, “aggravating the very problem it seeks to address”, says Michael Henderson from Capital Economics.

UK Labour leader Ed Miliband has indicated that a threat by banks to move abroad would not deter him from breaking them up if they did not agree to revolutionise their operations and put ordinary customers first.

Unemployment in the Euro-zone hit a fresh high of 18.2 million in August, the EU statistics agency has said. The number out of work rose by 34.000, but after the July data was revised up, it meant the unemployment rate remained stable at a record high of 11.4%.