Stories for March 12th 2010

Friday, March 12th 2010 - 23:30 UTC
Environment degradation threatens Haiti’s recovery process warns UN

The United Nations Environment Program warns Haiti's recovery process will be greatly constrained if the environmental degradation suffered during the catastrophic earthquake is not adequately taken care of.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 23:27 UTC
Cuba accuses Europe of “fabricating patriots out of criminals”

The Cuban government again on Friday blasted the European Parliament for fabricating “patriots among mercenaries and criminals” and for supporting “subversion”, as the regime of the Fidel and Raul Castro brothers calls dissidents.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 23:25 UTC
German Left leader warns on “extreme presidentialism” in Socialist Latinamerica

Gregor Gysi the leader of Germany’s Left considers a serious problem the extreme “presidentialism” of the new left wing governments in Latinamerica and said Cuba was on the wrong track if it believes social justice demands sacrificing liberties.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 21:12 UTC
Lula da Silva criticizes the press, attacks “false democrats’” editorials

Brazilian president Lula da Silva blasted the “false democrats” who write “fancy editorials” in newspapers, suggesting the media corporations are attempting to embarrass his government in an election year.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 20:44 UTC
Beijing proposes Paraguay trade and cultural links

China has proposed to Paraguay a gradual process of rapprochement with special emphasis in trade and cultural fields at a first stage, revealed Paraguay’s Foreign Affairs minister Hector Lacognata.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 18:21 UTC
Deminers recover over a thousand mines in Falklands

MORE than a thousand mines have been recovered and destroyed by deminers working in the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Island Demining Programme Office (FIDPO) was established in Stanley in early October 2009.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 04:57 UTC
Tremors cut short Piñera inauguration and decide his agenda

It was to be a grand celebration, the conservatives had defeated the left leaning ruling coalition that has dominated Chilean politics since 1990 and they would be returning to office after more than half a century. But the party was not to be.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 01:14 UTC
Brazilian economy contracted 0.2% last year but is poised to expand 5.7% in 2010

The Brazilian economy contracted for the first time in 17 years in 2009, falling by 0.2% the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) said Thursday. It was the first annual contraction of GDP since 1992. IBGE said the industrial and agricultural sectors were hit hardest but the services sector gained in 2009
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 01:03 UTC
Forbes list includes 36 Latinamericans with fortunes above a billion dollars

A total of 36 Latinamericans figure in the Forbes list of men with fortunes greater than a billion dollars, like the Mexican Carlos Slim, the new Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, and the Brazilian Eike Batista, as well as drug lord Joaquín Guzmán Loera, “El Chapo,” informed Forbes magazine.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 00:59 UTC
BP gets a hold of Brazil’s oil potential buying out US Devon Energy

British Petroleum has agreed to buy Brazilian, Azeri and Gulf of Mexico assets from Devon Energy for 7 billion US dollars, as the US producer refocuses on onshore US fields.