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16 Feb 2012 18:39

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Biz: Still think Detroit’s going bankrupt? Check out GM’s killer numbers

  • $4.7 billion General Motors’ posted earnings for the 2010 fiscal year
  • $7.6 billion General Motors’ posted earnings for the 2011 fiscal year source
  • » What a record to break! One year removed from bankruptcy, American automaker General Motors posted record-setting earnings for the 2011 fiscal year. In recent weeks/months many investors worried that GM’s overseas operations would drag down the company’s year-end totals. GM lost a total of $747 million in European markets, with $562 million of the losses occurring in the fourth quarter alone. In South America, where the company reported $818 million in earnings for 2010, GM reported a net loss of $122 million. However, not only did the company defy global expectations, GM managed to break its former $6.7 billion earnings record, set in 1996.
Posted by Scott Craft • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Feb 2012 11:31

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World: Falkland Islands still major sticking point for Britain, Argentina 30 years later

  • 1982 The United Kingdom went to war with Argentina over possession of the Falkland Islands, a land of roughly 3,000 people fairly close to Antartica, claimed to be possessed by each country. The war, which killed hundreds on each side, ended without a resolution of the islands’ ownership, but the two countries later rebuilt their diplomatic relationship.
  • 2012 As the 30th anniversary of the war approaches, the two countries are arguing about the Falklands again, with Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez accusing Britain of “militarizing the South Atlantic” and promising to complain to the United Nations, and British PM David Cameron saying that “The people of the Falklands choose to be British.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Nov 2011 11:26

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World: Brazil raids notorious Rio de Janeiro slum ahead of World Cup, Olympics

  • An attempt to clean up a big problem: Tanks rolled through Rio’s Rocinha neighborhood early Sunday morning, in an effort to show some authority in the region, which is a hotbed for the country’s drug trade. “We’re taking back this territory for the 100,000 citizens of Rocinha, people who have needed peace,” said Sergio Cabral, the governor of the Rio de Janeiro state. But there’s also a bigger goal happening — officials want to clean up the region ahead of two major events heading to the city in the next few years — 2014’s World Cup and 2016’s Olympics. Roughly a third of the city’s six million residents live in slums — of which Rocinha is the largest one. (Photo by Silvia Izquierdo/AP) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Nov 2010 23:38

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Offbeat, World: Peruvian president blames low approval ratings on Peruvians

  • We are what we are: sad, distrustful … We have a natural lack of trust.
  • Peruvian President Alan Garcia • Suggesting he has a low approval rating (34 percent approve, 62 percent disapprove) because Peruvians are naturally unhappy. He suggests nearby countries, like Brazil, are happier. Way to flip the message. Are the people saying “BOO” or “BOO-urns”?  source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Sep 2010 14:37

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World: Dramatic death, damage tolls in Guatemala landslides

  • 36+ people have died in the mudslides
  • 40+ are reportedly still missing in the mud
  • 40k+ are now homeless due to the storms source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

15 Jul 2010 11:20

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World: Guess which South American country legalized gay marriage

  • Hint: It’s not Brazil. But the country does have millions of people, and its senate did just vote to allow gay marriage, a huge win for the gay-rights movement, although it was a little close and there was a lot of debate about the issue. The president backed the decision, too. And, unlike the U.S., a representative for one of the country’s major gay-rights groups can say this: “Nearly every political and social figure has spoken out in favour of marriage equality.” C’mon, take a guess. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Apr 2010 20:45

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World: Hugo Chavez to Latin American leaders: Join Twitter, the water’s fine

  • 110,275 followers for Hugo already
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

07 Apr 2010 11:19

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World: Landslides, floods lead to heavy death toll in Rio de Janeiro

  • 102+ people killed after a
    heavy rainfall source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2010 10:47

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World: Chile’s new aftershock hit during President Pinera’s inauguration

  • This aftershock hit just as new Chilean president Sebastian Pinera was about to get inaugurated into office, which complicated things, as you might imagine. The quake was strong, but no reports of damage have come out yet. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Mar 2010 20:12

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World: The Chile earthquake shook entire major cities out of alignment

  • 10′ the distance Concepcion was displaced
  • 11″ the distance Santiago was displaced
  • 1″ the distance Buenos Aries moved source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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