Stories for August 24th 2010
Uruguay confident in recovering investment grade “within one or two years”
Uruguay whose credit rating was cut to junk in 2002, expects to return to investment grade within two years, central bank President Mario Bergara said. “We are confident that in one or two years we will have investment grade again,” Bergara said at an investors’ conference in New York Monday.
US top official to visit Argentina, Uruguay and Chile
United States Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Judith A. McHale will travel to Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile August 24 - September 2, her first visit to the region since been nominated to the post.
Venezuela with one of the world’s highest murder rates, according to official data
Venezuela registered 19,133 murders in 2009, which places the rate of homicides in the country at 75 for every 100,000 inhabitants, according to a study by the National Statistics Institute, or INE, cited Friday by the press.
Russia admits crop loss of 38%; self sufficient in 2010 but no reserves for 2011
Russia has enough grain to cover its domestic needs after harvesting this year 38% less than the previous crop, a senior official said Monday. However markets believe Russia could be forced to import several million tons to ensure grain reserves until the following 2011 harvest
China ready to celebrate 30 years of economic success, admits “social debt”
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called for implementation of political reform measures during a tour in Shenzhen, the nation's first special economic zone (SEZ) which thirty years ago opened the way for the economic reforms that have helped China become a world power.
Uruguay’s wool clip forecasted to drop 20%: less sheep and extreme weather
Uruguay’s wool clip is forecasted to drop 20% in 2010/11 because of a fall in the number of sheep and extreme weather conditions that will represent a loss of almost a kilo of wool per head, according to Alvaro Fossati, president of a sheep farmers association.
Chilean Patagonia controversial dam project faces serious PR challenge
Daniel Fernandez, the new top executive for the controversial 3.2 billion US dollars HidroAysen dam project proposed for Chilean Patagonia, confirmed Sunday that the effort to convince Chileans about the project’s importance has not gone well and that the company is consulting five PR firms to help improve their marketing effort.
Big business convinced Ms Rousseff is Brazil’s next president
Campaign funds in support of the Brazilian ruling coalition presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff more than double those of her main adversary, according to a report published Monday by Folha de Sao Paulo.
