Stories for April 9th 2009
UK top cop quits over security blunder; G-20 policeman suspended
Britain's top counter-terrorism officer has resigned after his security blunder threatened a major anti-terror operation. London Mayor Boris Johnson said he had accepted Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick's resignation with “great reluctance and sadness”.
Bank of England leaves rates unchanged, opts for money injection
The Bank of England kept interest rates on hold at 0.5%, in a widely expected move following a number of rate cuts in recent months. Rates remain at an all-time low after six cuts since October last year, when interest rates stood at 5%.
Spanish Easter shoppers double Gibraltar population
Gibraltar’s population was practically doubled as an avalanche of Spanish shoppers poured in through the frontier gates on Tuesday to take advantage of the price bargains resulting from the strength of the Euro in relation to Sterling, reports the Chronicle
Brazil offers a billion USD in projects to compensate for Itaipu energy
The Brazilian government is planning to offer a financing package worth one billion US dollars for industrial projects in Paraguay, local financial newspaper Valor Economico reported this week. According to the newspaper, which cited unnamed sources, the financing will be offered through Brazil's National Development Bank, or BNDES.
Easter present for Paraguayan president: a paternity suit
Paraguay’s Christina Democrat party reiterated “full confidence” in President Fernando Lugo who faces a paternity suit alleging that a son was born to the former Roman Catholic bishop five months after he abandoned the church for politics.
Bolivian president on hunger strike to force Congress
Bolivian President Evo Morales went on a hunger strike Thursday to demand Congress pass an electoral law which includes a firm date for December’s general election and other reforms which could make it easier for him to get re-elected and win control of Congress.
EC to announce new strategy to revive fish farming industry
The European Commission is expected to unveil this week a new strategy to revive the fish farming industry. At a time when stocks of some species of fish in the world's oceans are dangerously low, the authorities in Brussels are concerned that Europe's aquaculture sector has stagnated.
Argentina admits “very serious” dengue epidemics “which has come to stay”
“Dengue is here to stay” in the Southern Cone and although not controllable it can be prevented , admitted Argentina’s Health Minister Graciela Ocaña as the mosquito transmitted disease reached metropolitan Buenos Aires following thousands of cases in the impoverished north which the government tried to downplay.
UK “considering approach” to Falklands’ continental shelf and May deadline
The United Kingdom has no doubts about its sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, or its right to make a submission to extend the continental shelf under the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, but it is considering its approach in view of the May 2009 deadline.
Opposition accuse PM Brown of “full retreat” in fiscal stimulus measures
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been accused of being in “full retreat” over his recession-fighting strategy amid signs that any further fiscal stimulus measures would be severely limited by worsening economic conditions.
