Stories for March 20th 2013

Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 23:40 UTC
Argentines expect inflation to reach 33.5% in the next twelve months

Argentines expect inflation to reach 33.5% in the next twelve months, according to the latest report from the Finance Research Centre, CIF, which belongs to the Torcuato Di Tella University. This is half a percentage point higher than the previous release.
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 23:29 UTC
UN aviation and tourism agencies pledge to coordinate efforts to facilitate travel

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) signed a special Joint Statement on Aviation and Tourism acknowledging the intention of the two UN agencies to begin cooperating more closely on issues of common priority.
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 23:09 UTC
The Pope is Argentine, but God is Brazilian, says Rousseff; Francis is expected in Rio next July

Argentines are lucky because they have a great Pope, but “if the Pope is Argentine, God is Brazilian”, said Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday following her half hour meeting with Francis and asked by Argentine reporters her impression of the new pontiff.
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 08:54 UTC
Francis inaugurates papacy with little pomp and much contact with the faithful

Pope Francis on Tuesday inaugurated his papacy with a Mass in front of hundreds of thousands of people, foreign leaders and the Orthodox Christians Patriarch (first time since the great schism of 1054) in St. Peter's Square with a simplified rite that fuelled hopes for change in the scandal-plagued Roman Catholic Church.
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 08:50 UTC
Francis calls on world leaders ‘to be protectors of one another and of the environment’

Under bright sunshine in St. Peter's Square, the Argentine pope insisted with his constant message since he was elected by a secret conclave of cardinals last week: that the Church's mission was to defend the poor and disadvantaged. Francis also called on leaders to protect the people and respect the environment.
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 08:40 UTC
Before his coronation mass Francis talked to the Catholics gathered in Plaza de Mayo

As thousands of Argentine Catholics were congregated at Plaza de Mayo in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral, where huge screens and Vatican and Argentine flags were set up for people to joyfully celebrate the beginning of Francis’ papacy, the Pontiff surprised the masses with an unexpected phone call.
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 08:35 UTC
Francis first beatification could be a Franciscan friar killed by Argentine military

A Franciscan friar tortured and killed by Argentina’s last civil-military dictatorship, could become the first religious leader to be beatified by Pope Francis according to a piece in the Italian newspaper La Stampa.
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 08:29 UTC
Suspended potash project top officials left Argentina following union threats

Top officials from the Brazilian mining company Vale which suspended a 6 billion dollars potash development project in Argentina left the country for Sao Paulo last Friday following “on instructions from the security department” of the corporation, according to reports in the Brazilian press.
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 08:26 UTC
Mining and construction boom fuelled Chilean economy in 2012, growing 5.6%

Chile’s GDP expanded 5.6% in 2012 as a boom in the mining and real estate industries demand boosted investment and sparked an increase in consumer spending. The economy grew 5.7% in the fourth quarter from 2011, the central bank said in a report on its website.
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 - 08:22 UTC
FAO first wheat forecasts for 2013 anticipates second largest crop on record

First forecasts for the 2013 wheat harvest point to production increasing to 690 million tons, 4.3% up on 2012. This would be the second largest crop on record, according to the latest issue of FAO quarterly “Crop Prospects and Food Situation” report. The production hike is expected mostly in Europe, driven by increased plantings in response to high prices and a recovery in yields in some countries, notably the Russian Federation.