Stories for March 2010

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.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 00:56 UTC
Piñera names tourism entrepreneur governor of Magallanes region

Magallanes region in the extreme south of Chile has a new provincial governor, Liliana Kusanovic Marusic, a well known tourism entrepreneur in Punta Arenas who last year was distinguished among the top 100 “Women Leaders” of Chile.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 00:08 UTC
“God is Bolivarian” and will bring rain to Venezuela’s power stations, says Chavez

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez faces a major power shortage that could severely damage the country’s economy and plunge his popularity, but he is confident sufficient rainfall is on the way to fill the lake of a crucial dam because “God is Bolivarian”.
Friday, March 12th 2010 - 00:00 UTC
February inflation in China anticipates further tightening of credit

Chinese inflation hit a 16-month high in February, causing economists to call for the government to tighten the economy to prevent overheating. The annual rate of consumer price inflation rose to 2.7% in February, up from 1.5% in January, and ahead of analysts' expectations of 2.3%.
Thursday, March 11th 2010 - 23:59 UTC
US February budget deficit was the largest in history: 221 billion USD

The US government recorded a budget deficit of 221 billion US dollars in February - the largest monthly deficit in its history. The total deficit since the beginning of the fiscal year in October now stands at 651.6 billon according to US Treasury figures.
Thursday, March 11th 2010 - 23:45 UTC
China’s exports, imports soar in February, in spite of New Year festivities

China's exports jumped by 46% in February compared with a year ago, raising hopes of a strong recovery in global trade. The increase was higher than analysts' expectations of a rise of between 35% and 40%.
Thursday, March 11th 2010 - 23:41 UTC
EU Parliament condemns “avoidable and cruel” death of Cuban political prisoner

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday strongly condemning the “avoidable and cruel” death of Cuban political prisoner Orlando Zapata and voicing its concern at the “alarming state” of another prisoner, Guillermo Fariñas.