Economy

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 23:51 UTC

  China bars Brazil’s bulk carriers from its ports; clash over iron ore shipping rates

  

  China banned a giant new class of ship from its ports on Tuesday, a move that checks efforts by mining giant Vale SA to cut the cost of shipping iron ore to its largest market and risks raising trade tensions with Brazil.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 17:39 UTC

  Chile almost close to “full employment”; shortage of manpower in some sectors

  

  Chile’s unemployment rate unexpectedly declined in the three months through December to 6.6% from 7.1% as the retail, mining and construction industries expanded, the National Statistics Institute said on Tuesday. The situation according to economists is close to “full employment”.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 17:35 UTC

  Euro zone unemployment climbs to highest level since 1998

  

  Euro zone unemployment has risen to its highest level since before the Euro was introduced, according to data showed on Tuesday, a day after EU leaders promised to focus on creating millions of new jobs to try to kick start Europe's floundering economy.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 13:55 UTC

  Falklands’ government advances in options for a proposed new port facility

  

  A paper relating to further work on options for the proposed new port facility for the Falkland Islands was presented to the latest Executive Council Meeting by the Falkland Islands Government Projects Director.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 05:32 UTC

  Uruguay industry accuses Argentina of systematically blocking exports

  

  The Uruguayan industrial sector warned that certain members of the Mercosur “are failing to fulfil their obligations” and targeted Argentina directly by pointing out that the new trade regulations set by the local Government “are hurting production” in the neighbouring country.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 05:27 UTC

  EU agrees permanent rescue fund and 25 member back German budget discipline pact

  

  European leaders agreed on a permanent rescue fund for the Euro zone on Monday and 25 out of 27 EU states backed a German-inspired pact for stricter budget discipline, but they struggled to reconcile fiscal austerity with economic growth.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 05:24 UTC

  Argentine government and organized labour clash in first day of a week of conflicts

  

  The Argentine government as was anticipated by organized labour woke on Monday to the first day of a week of conflicts over salary and work conditions, taking as the leading case for the struggle the Argentine post office and its distribution fleet.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 05:13 UTC

  On line shopping giant Amazon accused of artificially inflating prices

  

  On line shopping giant Amazon has been accused of artificially inflating prices by banning firms that trade on its website from selling goods more cheaply elsewhere on the internet.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 05:09 UTC

  BAE yards threatened once Royal Navy carriers are delivered in 2018, warn unions

  

  Britain should bring forward orders for a new generation of navy frigates to help BAE Systems bridge a production hiatus that’s threatening its warship-making capabilities and 6.000 engineering jobs, the Unite union revealed.

• Tuesday, January 31st 2012 - 05:04 UTC

  Shallow canals and low water levels obstruct Argentina’s main grains terminal

  

  The grounding of two bulk carriers one in the Parana River and a second in the Martin Garcia access canal are evidence of the frail fluvial communications system between the River Plate and the Atlantic, reports the press from the port of Rosario, Argentina’s second largest city and among the world’s main grain export terminals.