Stories for October 8th 2012
Cristina Fernandez ruffling feathers with the Falklands to mask domestic failings
Several British newspapers have turned their eyes on Argentina arguing that the challenging situation faced by President Cristina Fernandez both domestically and internationally is making her increasingly take advantage of the Falkland Islands dispute as a smokescreen to mask domestic failings.
Americas’ defense ministers’ summit rejects addressing Falklands’ issue
Argentina’s intention of having the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty issue included in the agenda of the Americas Defense ministers’ conference currently taking place in Uruguay was rejected, mainly because of the positions from the US, Canada and several Caribbean states.
Paraguay expects 9.5% expansion next year propped by a ‘super soybean crop’
Paraguay’s economy is forecasted to contract 1.5% in 2012 but in 2013 will soar 9.5% based on a “super soybean crop” and the recovery of other sectors, according to the latest report from the country’s Central bank confirming its previous 2012 GDP estimate.
Steroid injection spreading rare form of fungal meningitis infection in the US
The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration are quickly moving to determine the source of the fungal infection causing a rare form of meningitis that has killed seven people in nine states in the last few weeks, as the producer of the steroid injection apparently carrying the infection recalled all of its products.
MSC Orchestra four crew members hospitalized with bacterial meningitis
Four members of the crew of an Italian liner are in hospital, including one who is fighting for his life, following an outbreak of bacterial meningitis. The four were admitted to hospital in the Tuscan port of Livorno on Sunday at the end of a cruise by MSC Orchestra liner. A 32-year-old Indonesian crew member is the most ill of the four.
Unasur praise for the reliability and transparency of Venezuelan electoral system
The head of the Unasur delegation sent to Venezuela to follow Sunday’s electoral process, Carlos Alvarez said that the country had given the world a lesson of democracy because of its extraordinary electoral system and the attitude of the opposition, among other positive elements.
Paraguay expects to be back in Mercosur “sooner than later”: before April 2013
President Federio Franco said he trusted Paraguay would be fully re-incorporated to Mercosur before the general election scheduled for 21 April 2013. Paraguay is currently suspended from the trade block following the removal of Fernando Lugo as president, a decision voted almost unanimously by the country’s Senate but condemned by Mercosur and Unasur.
Falklands military exercises ‘routine’ and part of the defensive military presence
The British government said that the military exercises scheduled to be carried out in the Falkland Islands beginning Monday are “annual and routine exercises.” The move had been strongly condemned by the Argentine government.
Ghana court to hold hearing on retained Argentina’s ARA Libertad on Tuesday
Next Tuesday the Ghana Supreme Court will be holding a hearing to consider a motion from the government of President Cristina Fernandez requesting the annulment of the injunction retaining Argentina’s navy training vessel ARA Libertad following a legal proceeding from a hedge fund holding Argentine defaulted sovereign bonds.
Brazilian banks have room “to cut consumer lending rates in half”
Brazilian banks have room to cut consumer lending rates in half, Brazil's Finance Minister Guido Mantega said in remarks published this weekend in the O Globo newspaper.
