Stories for October 13th 2009
Britain has the worst quality of life in Europe says uSwitch.com
Despite having the highest incomes, people in Britain have the worst quality of life in Europe, a study shows. According to the uSwitch.com European Quality of Life Index, Britons have longer working hours, lower holiday entitlement and a higher cost of living than their counterparts in other European countries, placing them at the bottom of the list in survey.
Brazilian diplomacy looks to a post G7 multilateral world
The naming of Antonio Patriota, former Brazilian ambassador in United States as his Deputy, further strengthens the influence of Foreign Affairs minister Celso Amorim in the country’s foreign policy elaboration, according to reports in the Sao Paulo press.
Argentine farmers anticipate dismal crops except for soybeans
Argentina’s farmers will be investing 4.878 billion US dollars in the 2009/2010 crop season which represents a drop of 32.6% compared to the previous cycle according to different farmers organizations quoted this week in Buenos Aires media.
Zelaya and Micheletti closer to a solution for the Honduras crisis
Ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya sacked Tuesday one of his negotiators at the dialogue table with the de facto government, following his refusal to sign an understanding by which Zelaya desists from calling a constitutional assembly.
UK rates to remain low for years amid tax rises and spending cuts
UK interest rates will stay low for years amid tax rises and spending cuts, according to an economic forecast. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) believes the rate will remain at its current 0.5% level until 2011 and not reach 2% until 2014.
China begins 26th Antarctica season with a team of 251 scientists
Chinese scientists have set off from Shanghai for their 26th research mission to the Antarctic. The “Snow Dragon”, China's main research ship in the polar region, has gone through a series of maintenance and technical readjustments, according to Global Times.
Chilean government announces major Mapuche land repatriation
Chile’s government last week announced plans to purchase and return 33,000 hectares (more than 80,000 acres) to indigenous communities in southern Region IX, paying record prices for estates that have become emblematic to the native Mapuche cause
British MPs repayments expenses conflict: a political or legal question?
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Tory leader David Cameron are battling to contain the growing anger among MPs across Parliament faced with demands to repay thousands of pounds in expenses.
UK September’s weaker inflation surprises and triggers doubts about recovery
Inflation in Britain has sunk faster than expected to hit a five-year low last month, official figures showed. The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) for September stood at 1.1% - down from August's 1.6% - as hikes in household energy bills in 2008 compared with unchanged bills for the same month this year.
Mini-reshuffle in Foreign Office cabinet
A mini-reshuffle in the British cabinet or simply “housekeeping”, according to PM Brown’s spokesperson, has switched Baroness Kinnock from her post as Europe Minister, --just four months into the job--, to be replaced by Welsh MP Chris Bryant, who nevertheless remains as a junior member in the department.
