Stories for March 2012

Tuesday, March 6th 2012 - 05:03 UTC
Paraguay exports to Argentina plunge 70%; ‘mirror’ countermeasures considered

Mercosur junior member Paraguay that is suffering the Argentine restrictions on imports and has seen its February exports plummet 70% is planning ‘mirror’ countermeasures but emphasizing on those products with greater impact for Argentina and lesser for Paraguay.
Tuesday, March 6th 2012 - 04:51 UTC
China increases defense budget to 100bn dollars; India says it is closer to 150bn

China has announced it will increase defense spending by 11.2% in 2012, for the first time taking its annual military expenditure beyond 100 billion dollars as it puts in place plans to modernize its Army against the backdrop of an uncertain regional environment.
Tuesday, March 6th 2012 - 01:06 UTC
China targets 7.5% economic growth as it prepares for change of leadership

China expects economic growth of 7.5% this year as it looks for more sustainable expansion, prepares for a change in leadership and rides out a global slowdown. Premier Wen Jiabao unveiled the target at the start of the annual National People's Congress.
Tuesday, March 6th 2012 - 01:00 UTC
EU conservative governments openly support Sarkozy re-election, claims Spiegel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has agreed with other conservative European leaders to help President Nicolas Sarkozy in the French election campaign by spurning his Socialist challenger François Hollande, according to the German media Spiegel.
Monday, March 5th 2012 - 23:58 UTC
Brazil sends letter to Blatter: no dealings with FIFA’s Valcke: he’s a bum

Brazil's Sports minister says he has delivered a letter telling FIFA that it won't deal with Secretary General Jerome Valcke during the country's preparations for the 2014 World Cup.
Monday, March 5th 2012 - 23:47 UTC
Wikileaks suspect suffered “cruel and degrading” treatment, says UN rapporteur on torture

US authorities’ treatment of WikiLeaks suspect Private Bradley Manning was “cruel and degrading,” the UN special rapporteur on torture Juan Ernesto Mendez said Monday.
Monday, March 5th 2012 - 23:42 UTC
Brazil 2011/12 soy and corn crops estimates slightly lower to 69.5m and 60.4m tons

Brazil’s 2011/12 soybean and corn crops are forecasted to be slightly lower than the original February estimates according to the latest release from industry and market analyst.
Monday, March 5th 2012 - 23:12 UTC
US warns Argentina could loose trade benefits for not complying international investment rulings

United States could soon suspend trade benefits for Argentina warned on Monday an official from the Department of Commerce. US accuses Argentina of not paying awards in two long-running investment disputes with US companies following rulings from an international tribunal.
Monday, March 5th 2012 - 20:11 UTC
Argentina trade restrictions cut Uruguayan exports by almost half in February

Uruguayan exports to Argentina during the month of February plummeted 46.6% compared to the same month a year ago according to Uruguay’s Union of Exporters, which attributes the poor performance to the imports restrictions imposed by the neighbouring country.
Monday, March 5th 2012 - 20:05 UTC
Chinese athletes banned from eating beef: fears of the clenbuterol substance

Chinese athletes preparing for the London Olympics have been banned from eating meat over fears they may consume clenbuterol -the prohibited performance-enhancing substance led to Chinese Olympic judo champion Tong Wen's two-year banm, reports China Daily.