Stories for March 12th 2009

Friday, March 13th 2009 - 06:33 UTC
Polls show opposition ahead of Uruguay’s ruling coalition

Uruguay’s main opposition party is closing in on the ruling coalition Broad Front according to the latest public opinion poll which means that next October there will be no clear winner of the presidential election and a run-off in November seems certain
Friday, March 13th 2009 - 06:25 UTC
OPEC consensus for another oil production cut

Venezuela will insist at this week end’s meeting in Vienna of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, that the cartel needs to impose more production cuts, an influential lawmaker said in Caracas.
Friday, March 13th 2009 - 06:23 UTC
Surging global population adds to water crisis warns UN

The surging growth in global population, climate change, widespread mismanagement and increasing demand for energy have tightened the grip on the world’s evaporating water supplies, warned a new United Nations report released today.
Friday, March 13th 2009 - 05:41 UTC
Prince Charles tells Brazilian hosts: A hundred months to save the planet

Britain's Prince Charles currently in Brazil on a South American tour warned on Thursday that mankind has 100 months or less to save the planet from a climate-caused disaster.
Friday, March 13th 2009 - 04:24 UTC
Chile reshuffles cabinet ahead of electoral year

Chilean president Michelle Bachelet on Thursday reshuffled her cabinet by naming new Foreign Affairs and Defence ministers as well as a new government spokesperson. This is the eighth reshuffle since taking office in 2006 and marks the beginning of a tough electoral and financial year.
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 16:13 UTC
Chile dropped six places on list of tourism destinations

Chile dropped six places in the World Economic Forum’s latest travel and tourism ranking for the most competitive and attractive countries for travel and tourism.
Chile is now in 57th place out of the 133 countries included in the study – beating out nearby countries like Peru (74th place) and Argentina (65th).
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 16:09 UTC
Bolivian president Morales chews coca leaf and calls for respect

Bolivian president Evo Morales ate a coca leaf in front of delegates at the UN summit on drugs in Vienna on Wednesday, to underline his demand that the raw ingredient used to make cocaine be removed from the United Nation's list of prohibited drugs.
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 16:07 UTC
Prince Charles and Lula da Silva talk about environment and football

The Prince of Wales held talks with Brazilian President Lula da Silva ahead of a landmark speech by the royal on climate change. Charles met Lula da Silva in Brasilia and discussed a range of topics including the environment and sustainable development.
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 15:43 UTC
Peru signalled as only Latam country to slip from recession

Peru is the only Latin American country likely to escape slipping into recession this year, a senior World Bank official said on Wednesday.
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 11:04 UTC
Brazil cuts basic interest rate to 11.24%, the most in five years

Brazil’s Central bank slashed the Selic benchmark interest rate by 150 points to 11.25%, the most in five years. The vote was unanimous and follows a barrage of negative data about South America’s largest economy.