
Forbes Magazine this week ranked Chile as the best Latin America country for doing business. Chile ranked 19th among all the world's countries, up nine notches compared to last year. Mexico ranked 43rd, Uruguay 44th.

The European Central Bank hiked on Thursday its key rate 25 points to 4.25%. This is the first rise in a year and is geared to contain food and fuel prices that in June reached an annualized 4%, the highest since 1996.

Britain's Ministry of Defence signed this week contracts to build two future aircraft carriers, to be named HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince Of Wales, the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK.

During the first five months of 2008, lamb and mutton exports from Argentina totaled 4.124 tons equivalent to 15.1 million US dollars which represents a 5% increase in volume and 19% in value, according to the latest statistics from SENASA, the Agro-food health and quality service.

For the first time in almost thirty years Argentina was unable to fulfill its high priced special cuts Hilton quota of beef for the European Union in the fiscal year which ended June 30.

The June Consumer Prices Index in Uruguay soared 1.28% over May, totalling 5.44% inflation in the first half of the year according to the official release from the National Statistics Institute, INE.

Land degradation is on the rise in many parts of the world, with direct consequences for an estimated 1.5 billion people – or a quarter of the world's population – the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO said on Wednesday, calling for renewed attention to tackle the issue.

The Royal Air Force's Typhoon aircraft marked another milestone in its capability this week when it was declared operational in the air-to-ground role, becoming the Service's most advanced multi-role aircraft. The multi-role capability means that RAF Typhoons can now carry out precision Ground Attack as well as Air Defence tasks

Argentina's Supreme Court could play a decisive role in the several months stand off between the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and farmers over the implementation of levies on grains and oil seeds exports.

Brazil has promised farmers 78 billion Reais, approximately 48 billion US dollars, in soft loans to promote agriculture production and help curb inflation announced on Wednesday the country's development bank, BNDES.