Stories for March 2013

Saturday, March 16th 2013 - 03:37 UTC
Bolivia and Venezuela ranked world's unfriendliest countries for tourists; overall bad score for Mercosur

A new report, put out earlier this month by the World Economic Forum, has ranked which countries roll out the welcome mat to travellers and which give the cold shoulder. The “Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2013” ranked 140 countries according to attractiveness and competitiveness in the travel and tourism industries.
Saturday, March 16th 2013 - 03:31 UTC
Argentina expanded 1.9% in 2012; saves 4bn dollars on GDP-growth linked bonds

Argentina’s GDP expanded 1.9%, following an increase of 2.1% in the last quarter of 2012, compared to the 8.9% of 2011, according to the official but questioned national stats office Indec release on Friday.
Friday, March 15th 2013 - 07:03 UTC
Francis calls on the Church to keep to its roots or it could become “a passionate NGO”

In his first public Mass, Pope Francis urged the Catholic Church on Thursday to stick to its roots and shun modern temptations, warning that it would become just “a compassionate NGO” if it forgot its true mission.
Friday, March 15th 2013 - 06:57 UTC
Argentina: dollar in black market climbs to milestone 8 Pesos and 57% gap with the official rate

The black market dollar exchange rate in Argentina pierced the milestone 8 Pesos mark while the official rate climbed to 5.09 Pesos with the gap between the two markets reaching 57%. The other ‘cash’ option: buying Argentine shares in Buenos Aires and reselling them in New York climbed 10 cents to 8.46 Pesos.
Friday, March 15th 2013 - 06:54 UTC
Argentina February Congressional inflation index more that double the official rate

In contrast with the 0.5% inflation reported by the Argentine government’s controversial stats office, Indec, the index based on private estimates and released by opposition lawmakers climbed to 1.23% with an accumulated 25.27% in the last twelve months.
Friday, March 15th 2013 - 06:50 UTC
Iberia back in the air: unions accept sacking of 3.141 staff and salary cuts

Workers of Spanish airline Iberia called off further strikes in a dispute over thousands of job cuts after unions accepted a mediation plan, the company announced in a statement.
Friday, March 15th 2013 - 06:45 UTC
World’s largest telescope at a cost of a billion Euros will be built in Chilean Andes

The Chilean Andes will be the location for the world’s largest telescope: the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), costing more than €1bn, which will capture the universe's earliest moments.
Friday, March 15th 2013 - 06:42 UTC
China names Li Keqiang as Premier at the helm of world’s second largest economy

China's leaders have named Li Keqiang as premier, placing him at the helm of the world's second-largest economy. Mr Li, who already holds the number two spot in the Communist Party, takes over from Wen Jiabao.
Friday, March 15th 2013 - 02:21 UTC
Falklands’ current cruise season much quieter and rather ‘turbulent’

This year’s Falkland Islands season has been much quieter than usual with over 19.000 passengers to the first week of March mainly because of cancellations due to weather and technical issues with a handful related to the political situation created by Argentine harassment early on the season, according to industry sources in the Islands.
Friday, March 15th 2013 - 00:26 UTC
January was the busiest month for South Georgia tourist season

January was the busiest month of the tourist season for South Georgia with 13 visits from cruise ships; in the second week of the month seven cruise ships visited. There were also visits by the Fishery Patrol Vessel, research vessels, and a large motor yacht, reports the latest editions of the South Georgia Newsletter.