Stories for March 1st 2010

Monday, March 1st 2010 - 06:00 UTC
Uruguay aims to reduce debt load and boost trade in next five years

Uruguay’s Vice President-elect Danilo Astori said the next government will reduce the country’s debt load and seek to boost trade with the rest of the world in a bid to bolster economic growth.
Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:56 UTC
Hillary Clinton adds Buenos Aires to her Latinamerican tour

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will add Argentina to her Latinamerican tour which begins Monday at the inauguration of Uruguayan president elect Jose Mujica in Montevideo, U.S. officials said on Sunday.
Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:52 UTC
Euro’s most crucial week since creation; Greece closer to an IMF rescue

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Sunday that the Euro is facing its most serious crisis since its launch a decade ago. The comment comes as European Union officials prepare to visit Athens Monday amid reports of an EU bailout whose effects could lead to further debt crises in the continent's troubled south.
Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:44 UTC
First flights begin landing in Santiago airport, but no take offs are permitted

The main airport in Chile’s Capital of Santiago allowed on Sunday the first few aircraft to land since the 8.8 mega quake struck the country Saturday morning. No aircraft however have been permitted to take off.
A Lan flight from Lima was the first to land in early afternoon.
Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:39 UTC
Chilean government admits tsunami-alert “diagnostic” system failed

Chile's government conceded it made a mistake in initially playing down the risk of a tsunami from Saturday's massive earthquake. At a news conference in Santiago, Defence minister Francisco Vidal blamed the navy for what he called a “diagnostic error”.
Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:33 UTC
Chile calls for aid and sends troops to prevent looting; body count reaches 710

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet announced emergency measures to deal with the destruction caused by Saturday's massive earthquake. The 8.8 magnitude quake - one of the most powerful recorded - devastated central parts of the country, killing more than 710 people and leaving an estimated 2 million people out in the streets.
Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:30 UTC
Copper prices expected to climb given uncertainty of Chilean supply

Copper is likely to climb when trading starts on Monday, lifted by uncertainty over supply after the world's top copper producer Chile suffered a massive earthquake, analysts said over the weekend.
Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:24 UTC
If Mercosur is failing, “we are doing something wrong”, said Mujica

Uruguay’s president elect Jose Mujica who takes office Monday March first admitted that Mercosur is “failing” because “we are doing something wrong”, but was enthusiastic about Latinamerican integration and praised Argentina, a country where “Uruguayans are not foreigners”.
Monday, March 1st 2010 - 05:19 UTC
“Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb” granted protected designation of origin

UK growers of a particular type of rhubarb have hailed the decision to award it special status as “fantastic news for British food”. Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb, which is only grown in the 'Rhubarb Triangle' between Bradford, Wakefield and Leeds, joins products likes champagne and Parma Ham in having its name legally protected.
Monday, March 1st 2010 - 01:39 UTC
Argentina warns BHP Billiton about drilling in Falklands’ waters

Argentina's ambassador to Australia says Melbourne based mining group BHP Billiton will face business sanctions if it pushes ahead with oil exploration in Falklands waters. BHP has a licence to explore off the Falkland Islands and is scheduled to start doing so in the next four months, reports Australian Broadcasting Corporation.