Stories for March 2010

Tuesday, March 23rd 2010 - 03:09 UTC
French team breaks around the world sailing record: 48 days, 7 hours

French skipper Franck Cammas and his crew onboard Groupama 3 have broken the around-the-world sailing record. The maxi-trimaran shaved two days eight hours off the mark set by Orange II in 2005 to set a record of 48 days seven hours 44 minutes to lap the globe.
Tuesday, March 23rd 2010 - 03:03 UTC
Cuban farmers pushing for greater autonomy to produce and sell crops

Cuban farmers are pressing for greater autonomy to produce and sell their crops, blaming government inefficiency for Cuba’s falling food output despite agricultural reforms introduced by President Raúl Castro.
Tuesday, March 23rd 2010 - 02:55 UTC
Four Rio Tinto executives admit taking bribes to a court in Shanghai

Four executives of mining giant Rio Tinto have admitted to a court in the Chinese city of Shanghai that they took bribes, officials have said. Lawyers for the men - Australian Stern Hu and three Chinese colleagues - said they admitted accepting some money but are disputing the amounts.
Monday, March 22nd 2010 - 23:39 UTC
Argentine hake fishery and markets at risk because of over-fishing, says NGO

Argentina could lose 40% of its fish market if hake (Merluccius hubbsi) captures do not follow new requirements imposed by the European Union (EU) to import fish and shellfish, warned the Wild Life Foundation Argentina, (FVSA).
Monday, March 22nd 2010 - 21:25 UTC
All set for Insulza’s re-election in OAS; Piñera flies to Washington in support

With a few hours left before the election of a new Secretary General for the Organization of American States, OAS, which has as only candidate Chilean Jose Miguel Insulza running for re-election, Chilean Foreign Affairs minister Alfredo Moreno said that support from United States is “welcome”.
Monday, March 22nd 2010 - 21:21 UTC
Drastic reduction of glaciers in the Northeast sector of Antarctic Peninsula

There is a continuous and drastic reduction in all of the glaciers located in the Northeast sector of the Antarctic Peninsula,” Argentine glaciologist Pedro Skvarca told local media last week.
Monday, March 22nd 2010 - 21:13 UTC
British Airways says three-day strike has cots £ 21 million

British Airways has said Unite's three-day strike will have cost it £21 million under its “current best estimate”. BA also said that contingency plans to cope with the strike had been “very successful” and that results for the year to March 31 would be “broadly unchanged”.
Monday, March 22nd 2010 - 21:08 UTC
“Slow and sluggish” UK economy in 2010 forecasts British Industry

The UK economy is in for a “bumpy ride” in 2010, according to a report from the UK's largest employers' group. Growth will remain fragile and the economy will be “slow and sluggish” as Government stimulus measures - like the VAT cut and the car scrappage scheme - are phased out, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said.
Monday, March 22nd 2010 - 21:05 UTC
Latinamerica leads in distribution of free laptops for schoolchildren

The massive delivery of free laptops for schoolchildren -- begun on an experimental basis nearly three years ago in Uruguay -- is booming throughout Latin America.
Monday, March 22nd 2010 - 21:01 UTC
Pepsi promises to help with campaign to fight childhood obesity

The world's second-largest food and beverage company says it will reduce the saturated fat, sodium, and sugar in its products to make them more nutritious.