Stories for April 2009
WHO says current influenza is identified as A/H1N1
As of Thursday April 30 the new influenza will be referred to as A/H1N1 said the World Health Organization in a brief announcement. The statement follows on World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) clarification of facts from the animal health perspective, particularly in relation to international trade of pigs and of products of pig origin.
OIE strongly counsels against the culling of pigs
The OIE (Epizooties International Organization) strongly counsels against the culling of pigs in the current situation with A/H1N1 influenza that started in North America, reports the organization from Paris.
A US diplomat and lobbyist who helped carve recent Latinamerican history
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner surfaced this week the name of a former US ambassador, and US corporation lobbyist, linked to notorious events of Latinamerican history of the last century at a ceremony in Government House.
Regional Andalusia airline begins Gibraltar-Madrid airbridge
Gibraltar expressed confidence that Andalus Lineas Aereas, the regional airline that resumes flights from the Rock to the Spanish capital Madrid as from Thursday morning, “is here to stay and will have a long term presence in Gibraltar”, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.
US government “surgical” bankruptcy of Chrysler warning for GM
President Barack Obama said Thursday that Chrysler will file a historic bankruptcy shortly, backed by up to 3.5 billion US dollars in new government aid designed to allow a Chrysler-Fiat partnership to emerge from court in 30 to 60 days.
Europe’s unemployment highest in three years: 20 million jobless
Europe’s unemployment rate rose to the highest in more than three years with 20 million jobless in March and inflation held at a record low, increasing pressure on the European Central Bank to take steps to tackle the worst recession in half a century.
End of UK military presence in Iraq; Tories call for Franks’ report on the war
A ceremony has been held in Basra Thursday to mark the official end of the six-year British military presence in Iraq, reports BBC. UK combat operations ended as 20 Armoured Brigade took part in a flag-lowering ceremony with a US brigade.
Egypt begins mass slaughter of pork population
Egypt has begun a mass slaughter of thousands of pigs in an effort to prevent swine flu spreading. The cull was going ahead despite there being no cases of swine flu in Egypt. However, neighbouring Israel has two confirmed cases in humans.
Peru confirms first swine flu case in South America
Peruvian Health Minister Oscar Ugarte Wednesday confirmed that an Argentine woman was the first case of swine flu in Peru. This makes the first case reported and confirmed in South America.
Brazil lowers basic interest rate to a record 10.25%
Brazil’s Central Bank cut its benchmark interest rate Selic for a third-straight time to a record low of 10.25% as it seeks to prevent the sluggish economy from contracting further this year.
