Stories for March 2011

Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 07:17 UTC
Presidenta Rousseff: “Brazilian young girls can now aspire to become president”

President Dilma Rousseff praised Brazilian women on a popular television program for having helped her “open the path for all young girls who dream of becoming president” and reiterated her administration’s commitment to combat poverty which has the face of ‘women and children’.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 07:14 UTC
Argentine president promises to keep pushing ‘permanently’ for Malvinas

Argentina’s claim of the Malvinas Islands only had a brief specific mention in President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Tuesday address to Congress where she outlined the achievements of her administration and plans for the remaining nine months of her four year mandate.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 07:00 UTC
Cuban reforms delayed: who and how do you sacks half a million state workers?

Cuba's plans to lay off half a million state workers by the end of March are behind schedule, President Raul Castro has acknowledged. Castro, quoted by state television, said the timetable for the cuts would be altered to soften their impact.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 06:55 UTC
LSE investigating if one of Gaddafi’s sons plagiarised his PhD thesis

The London School of Economics is investigating evidence that Colonel Gaddafi's son plagiarised his PhD thesis before it took a 2.4 million US dollars donation from his charitable foundation.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 06:44 UTC
New Zealand incorporates second Antarctic patrol vessel with flying colours

New Zealand’s newest offshore patrol vessel and its crew experienced all Antarctica could throw at them during the past three weeks and passed with flying colours, the navy says.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 06:30 UTC
HMS Liverpool, veteran of the Falklands conflict to be decommissioned 2012

HMS Liverpool set sail out of the Mersey city for the last time as her four-day ceremonial visit drew to a close. The Type 42 Destroyer, built by Cammell Laird, was heading north for operational sea training before going on an active deployment in the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf later in the year.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 06:24 UTC
UN appeals for aid to address humanitarian situation at Libyan/Tunisia border

The UN has called for a mass humanitarian evacuation of people fleeing Libya for Tunisia, saying the border situation is at “crisis point”. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said thousands of lives were at stake. Some 75,000 people have fled to Tunisia since unrest began and 40,000 more are waiting to cross, the UN says.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 06:17 UTC
US Congress works on bill to postpone government shut-down for two weeks

The US House of Representatives has approved a measure to fund the US government for a further two weeks, avoiding a looming shut-down. The bill from the Republican-led chamber would cut government spending by 4 billion USD in that period.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 06:12 UTC
Tokyo Sky Tree with 601 meters became the world’s highest self-standing tower

Tokyo Sky Tree, under construction in Tokyo, topped the 600-meter mark Tuesday, becoming the world’s highest self-standing tower nearly two years and seven months after the construction began in July 2008, the operator said.
Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 06:05 UTC
Illegal betting in sports generates turnover of 140 billion US dollars

Illegal betting in sport generates a turnover of around 140 billion US dollars a year worldwide, according to IOC president Jacques Rogge. Speaking after a meeting in Lausanne with government ministers, Interpol and European bodies on illegal and irregular betting practices, Rogge said action had to be taken to counter the threat.