Stories for March 2009

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.
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 09:00 UTC
HMS Endurance begins month long piggy-back journey to Portsmouth

British Ice patrol HMS Endurance is ready to be piggy-backed from the Falkland Islands to Portsmouth because of a week’s delay in welding her to the deck of heavy load ship Target. She’s expected back in a month’s time.
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 08:55 UTC
Argentine oil provinces request floor price to ensure employment

Argentina’s oil and gas producing provinces are requesting from the Buenos Aires a floor price for hydrocarbons to ensure income from royalties for their weakened budgets.
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 08:30 UTC
Good prospects in Brazil for Venezuela’s admission to Mercosur

The head of the Brazilian Senate and former president Jose Sarney said that the Mercosur incorporation of Venezuela will be “disturbing” for the trade block but admitted the Upper House would finally approve the admission protocols.
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 08:28 UTC
Planet Earth ever so crowded: 7 billion by early 2012

The world’s population will hit 7 billion early in 2012 and top 9 billion in 2050, with the majority of the increase taking place in developing countries, according to revised United Nations estimates released today.
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 08:10 UTC
Recovery of sunken vessel with gold in South Atlantic begins next week

An offshore services support Norwegian vessel will begin next week working for the recovery of the Chilean flagged trawler “Polar Mist” loaded with containers containing gold and silver that was lost in the South Atlantic offshore Argentina.
Thursday, March 12th 2009 - 07:59 UTC
Falklands working for organic certification with Australian support

Forty per cent of the 1.1 million hectares of agricultural land in the Falkland Islands is working toward organic certification with Australian certification company ACO, according to Biological Farmers of Australia.