Stories for March 2009

Thursday, March 5th 2009 - 16:57 UTC
Argentine/Chilean lawmakers hold joint session in Antarctica

Argentine and Chilean members of the Congressional Foreign Relations Committees will hold symbolic meetings in Antarctica on Thursday to underline bilateral links and the two countries commitment to the Antarctic Treaty and the Environment Protection protocol.
Thursday, March 5th 2009 - 16:54 UTC
Petrobras unveils ambitious bio-fuels expansion program

Brazil’s government managed oil and gas corporation Petrobras announced its bio-fuels business plan for 2009/2013 which involves 2.4 billion US dollars to increase the production of bio-diesel and ethanol, most of which to be sourced in Brazil.
Thursday, March 5th 2009 - 16:50 UTC
Princess Anne in Gibraltar amid Spanish complaints

HRH Princess Anne arrived in Gibraltar Wednesday on an official visit to the disputed territory that has stirred up old tensions between Britain and Spain. The Spanish government made an official complaint to British authorities ahead of the royal visit describing it as “inopportune” and an affront to Spain, which contests London's rule over the strategic territory.
Thursday, March 5th 2009 - 16:46 UTC
First death caused by dengue reported in north Argentina

A 65 year old man is the first confirmed death of the mosquito transmitted dengue disease in the north of Argentina, it was officially informed Wednesday. The area where the case was reported, Tartagal, recently suffered a deadly mudslide which left thousand in precarious living conditions.
Thursday, March 5th 2009 - 16:41 UTC
South American countries coordinate anti-FAM campaign

An assessment mission from the Paris seated International Epizooties Organization (OIE) is currently organizing the monitoring of the High Vigilance Zone, (ZAV) in the heart of South America, where foot and mouth disease is recurrent.
Thursday, March 5th 2009 - 16:38 UTC
Successful drilling of new gas well in Magallanes region

GeoPark Holdings has announced the successful drilling and testing of a new gas well - Yagan 1 - on the Fell Block in the extreme south of Chile at an initial production test rate exceeding 10 million cubic feet per day (mmcfpd) of gas.
Wednesday, March 4th 2009 - 23:00 UTC
Argentine gov. and farmers reach first agreements

Argentina's government agreed Tuesday to several demands for dairy, beef and wheat production following a four hours meeting with farm leaders with the unexpected two hours participation of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in the discussions.
Wednesday, March 4th 2009 - 16:49 UTC
Brazil, Germany help boost car sales; US continues to plunge

Car sales in Brazil and Germany soared in February helped by tax breaks and a cash bonus to scrap old vehicles. In Brazil Fiat SpA reported its third straight sales increase in February and in Germany sales rose by 22% compared with the same month last year, reaching their highest level for 10 years.
Wednesday, March 4th 2009 - 16:47 UTC
Brazil’s trade in February leaner but returns to surplus

Brazil's trade surplus hit 1.7 billion US dollars in February, up from a 518 million dollar deficit in January and an 882 million dollars surplus in February 2008, the Ministry of Development, Industry and Trade reported this week.
Wednesday, March 4th 2009 - 16:46 UTC
Fidel says he was consulted about the cabinet reshuffle

The former Cuban president Fidel Castro says he was consulted on the sweeping leadership changes undertaken by his brother Raul government and he says two of the ousted officials had been seduced by “the honey of power.”