Stories for March 2012

Tuesday, March 13th 2012 - 07:21 UTC
“Argentina completely ignores the Mercosur treaty and spirit” says Uruguay

Uruguayan Vice-president Danilo Astori strongly criticized the current situation in Mercosur blasting protectionist measures of both Argentina and Brazil, which together with Paraguay are full members of the block
Tuesday, March 13th 2012 - 07:13 UTC
An alliance the world can count on

By Barack Obama and David Cameron (*) - Seven decades ago, as our forces began to turn the tide of World War II, Prime Minister Winston Churchill traveled to Washington to coordinate our joint efforts. Our victories on the battlefield proved “what can be achieved by British and Americans working together heart and hand,” he said. “In fact, one might almost feel that if they could keep it up, there is hardly anything they could not do, either in the field of war or in the not less tangled problems of peace.”
Tuesday, March 13th 2012 - 07:09 UTC
Exceptional rainfall and flash floods leave Punta Arenas under water

Sunday rains and flash floods in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile have left an estimated 800 people homeless forcing the city to close schools while the local chapter of the National Emergency office, Onemi, raised the alarm level from orange (moderate) to red (maximum).
Tuesday, March 13th 2012 - 07:07 UTC
India confirms ban on cotton exports; China furious makes official complaint

India will keep a controversial ban on its cotton exports for now after ministers failed to agree its fate at the weekend, even after top buyer China had criticised the move, which boosted global prices.
Tuesday, March 13th 2012 - 07:03 UTC
Goldman Sachs says Brazil’ Real needs to decline 20% to remain competitive

Jim O'Neill, chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, lent his support to Brazilian policy makers' efforts to weaken the Real, saying it needs to decline 20% to keep Latin America's biggest economy competitive.
Tuesday, March 13th 2012 - 01:10 UTC
Celebrate, “we have exterminated a cancer from Brazilian football”

The head of Brazil’s soccer federation resigned on Monday two years before the South American country hosts the World Cup, putting an end to a 23-year career marked by an unmatched championship record over that period and accusations of corruption off the field. He is replaced by his deputy chief Jose Maria Marin, a former governor of Sao Paulo.
Tuesday, March 13th 2012 - 00:58 UTC
Morales defends Bolivians right to chew coca leaves at UN anti-drugs meeting

Bolivian President Evo Morales defended Bolivians' right to chew coca leaves, the main ingredient of cocaine, on Monday, saying it was an ancient tradition and the world's No. 3 cocaine producer was working to fight drug trafficking.
Tuesday, March 13th 2012 - 00:56 UTC
Italy in recession; Greece receives bail out; Spain the new challenge

Italy is in recession, final data confirmed Monday. Italy's economy shrank 0.7% in the fourth quarter of 2011, following a 0.2% decline in GDP in the third quarter.
Monday, March 12th 2012 - 22:17 UTC
Trade, political refugees and Falklands’ flights in CFK/Piñera summit agenda

Increasing common infrastructure projects such as tunnels and border crossings between Chile and Argentina will be the main motive of this week’s presidential summit between Sebastian Piñera and Cristina Fernandez.
Monday, March 12th 2012 - 22:10 UTC
One year after Fukushima, time for a more mature debate on nuclear

Since Fukushima, important developments have taken place. Germany has decided to shut down its fission plants. Moreover, in a referendum, 95% of the Italian public opposed plans to restart a nuclear programme in the country.