Stories for March 2009

Saturday, March 21st 2009 - 09:08 UTC
G-20 members agree on banking regulation and loans to IMF

G-20 nations have agreed to develop principles to regulate the banking sector and to make 100 billion US dollars in loans available to the International Monetary Fund to support the developing world according to British government sources.
Saturday, March 21st 2009 - 08:47 UTC
Democratic Congress could hold surprises for Obama’s ambitious budgets

The US budget deficit will hit 1.8 trillion US dollars this year, a record amount, according to US Congress estimates. The White House said the prediction by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) would not alter President Barack Obama's policy agenda, nor would it affect its goal to cut the deficit in half by 2013, it added.
Saturday, March 21st 2009 - 08:40 UTC
Petrobras union threatens with national strike beginning Monday

Brazil’s government managed oil and gas corporation Petrobras faces a possible nationwide strike by oil workers that could paralyze the company's oil production for five days, starting Monday.
Saturday, March 21st 2009 - 08:33 UTC
Milestone ruling in Brazil supports Amazon Indian reservations

Amazon indigenous groups have won a major victory with Brazil's Supreme Court upholding the integrity of a vast native reserve in the northern state of Roraima next to Venezuela.
Friday, March 20th 2009 - 15:11 UTC
Falkland Islands: Weekly Penguin News Update

Headlines: Chamber clashes with FIG over lack of action; ‘Increased broadband’ announced by Cable and Wireless.
Friday, March 20th 2009 - 10:14 UTC
Mrs. Kirchner corners farmers who take to the roads again

In a further escalation of the conflict with farmers over taxes, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced on Thursday that revenue from the levy on soy exports would be shared between the federal, provincial and city governments.
Friday, March 20th 2009 - 10:11 UTC
IMF calls on G20 to bolster demand and more concerted policies

Despite major stimulus packages announced by advanced economies and several emerging markets, trade volumes have shrunk rapidly, while production and employment data suggest that global activity continues to contract in the first quarter of 2009, the IMF said in a new assessment of the global economy.
Friday, March 20th 2009 - 08:44 UTC
El Salvador president elect visits Lula da Silva and talks with Obama

El Salvador's President-elect Mauricio Funes will make his first foreign trip to Brazil, officials said after his party of former Marxist rebels triumphed in weekend elections. On Wednesday US President Barack Obama telephoned Mr. Funes to congratulate him on his election.
Friday, March 20th 2009 - 07:38 UTC
Costa Rica, El Salvador to re-establish ties with Cuba

After almost 50 years of severed ties, Costa Rica will re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, President Oscar Arias announced Thursday. The move, announced via a press release, comes after Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno hinted earlier this week that a rapprochement was possible.
Friday, March 20th 2009 - 07:20 UTC
El Salvador: No Radical Mandate

The FMLN wins the presidency in El Salvador, but it's no mandate for revolutionary change such as populism and confiscations.