MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Stories for February 9th 2010
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Tuesday, February 9th 2010 - 04:31 UTC
Cuba renews attempt to boost farm production and cut food import bill
Cuban President Raul Castro has announced a five-year plan that he hopes will ease the country's economic problems and reliance on food imports. Basically the agricultural reform this time will be to surround cities with small urban farms so private citizens can raise animals and grow fruits and vegetables.
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Tuesday, February 9th 2010 - 04:21 UTC
Carnival takes off and Brazilian government hands out millions of condoms
Brazilian health officials have kicked off an AIDS awareness campaign and will hand out 55 million condoms during the annual Carnival festival that begins this weekend.
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Tuesday, February 9th 2010 - 04:06 UTC
Chavez ready “any time” to declare “electricity emergency”
Venezuela is facing the worst drought in a century and needs to be placed under an “electricity emergency,” President Hugo Chavez said Monday in his new, “any-time” radio program “Suddenly With Chavez.”
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Tuesday, February 9th 2010 - 04:03 UTC
Unasur summit on Haiti could help ease regional tensions
Union of South American Nations, Unasur, leaders meet Tuesday in Quito, Ecuador to discuss the continent’s response to the crisis in earthquake devastated Haiti. The extraordinary summit’s initiative was sponsored by Ecuador’s president Rafael Correa following his visit to Haiti where he met with President René Preval.
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Tuesday, February 9th 2010 - 02:23 UTC
Lula da Silva beefs up federal payroll with 46.000 new posts
The administration of Brazilian president Lula da Silva increased the federal payroll since 2003 with 64.000 new posts and is planning another 46.000 in this the last year of his two four-year mandate, according to government sources.
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Tuesday, February 9th 2010 - 02:18 UTC
US-China trade dispute escalates to include chicken wings and feet
China is to enforce anti-dumping duties on US chicken imports, accusing American poultry firms of exporting the meat at unfairly low prices. In just the latest in a series of trade disputes between the two countries, China's Commerce Department said the tariffs will start from 13 February.
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Tuesday, February 9th 2010 - 02:16 UTC
Fitch says there is “no risk of contagion” from Greek debt crisis
Euro-zone countries face no risk of “contagion” from the debt and deficit crises afflicting Greece, Portugal and Spain, the chairman of ratings agency Fitch said in an interview with Europe radio 1.
