Stories for August 27th 2011

Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:35 UTC
New York evacuates 250.000 people in anticipation of hurricane Irene

Authorities in New York City ordered mandatory evacuation of all low-lying areas before Hurricane Irene hits, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Friday. Bloomberg told a press conference that the evacuation - estimated at more than 250,000 people - could begin when shelters open at 4 pm.
Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:31 UTC
Argentine president campaigns in farm heartland not so long ago ‘enemy territory’

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner made on Friday a deep incursion into the province of Buenos Aires farmland where she headed the inauguration of a railway line which will reactivate the train service connecting twenty towns in the area.
Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:28 UTC
Piñera yields and calls on students and teachers to a round of negotiations

After three months of mass protests that provoked a sharp drop in his popularity, Chilean President Sebastian Piñera agreed Friday to negotiate with students and teachers demanding more state funding for education and profound changes in government.
Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:25 UTC
Ex IMF chief is given back passport and can travel a free man

Dominique Strauss-Kahn was given back his passport on Thursday, his legal team said, clearing the way for the former IMF head to travel abroad for the first time since his arrest three months ago on sex crime charges.
Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:21 UTC
Mexico demands crackdown on drugs in the US following casino carnage

Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared three days of mourning Friday and demanded a crackdown on drugs in the United States after armed men torched a casino in northern Mexico, killing at least 65 people.
Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:19 UTC
Unemployment in Brazil falls to its lowest level this year, 6%

Brazil’s unemployment rate fell in July to its lowest level this year, 6% from 6.2% in June, reported the National statistics office. Average real wages rose 4% from a year ago to 1.613 Real (999.50 dollars) a month.
Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:17 UTC
Brazil en route to comply comfortably with budget planned primary surplus

Brazil’s budget primary surplus widened in July to a record for the month pushing the year-to-date total to almost 80% of the government’s 2011 target, according to the Central bank.
Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:12 UTC
Further turbulence for embattled President Rousseff: this time two blondes

Two further headaches for embattled Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff who in eight months of government has seen four ministers and two deputy ministers step down under serious suspicions of corruption.
Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:09 UTC
S&P upgrades Brazil’s ratings based on “good long-term growth prospects”

Brazil local-currency credit rating is being reviewed for an upgrade by Standard & Poor’s, which cited the country’s economic stability. The rating was affirmed at BBB+, the third-lowest investment grade, S&P said in a statement.
Saturday, August 27th 2011 - 07:04 UTC
Brazil ‘unofficially’ lowers 2011 growth estimate to 3.7% from 4%

The Brazilian government has unofficially cut its outlook for 2011 GDP growth given a slowing world economy and unsustainably fast expansion last year, a local newspaper reported on Friday.