Stories for October 16th 2012
The message from the Venezuelan elections
By Ambassador R. Viswanathan - The free, fair and peaceful Venezuelan elections on Sunday 7 October, with a clear and accepted outcome has restored the confidence of the world, which had some doubts about the vulnerabilities of Latin American democracies – especially after the constitutional overthrow of President Lugo of Paraguay in June this year and the unconstitutional removal of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya in 2009.
Uruguayan government and supermarkets agree to keep 2012 inflation below 10%
Uruguayan supermarkets pledged to help the government of President Jose Mujica to keep inflation below 10% at the end of the year even when in the first nine months of the year it reached 8.64%.
ARA Libertad conflict forces the resignation of the Argentine navy chief
The ARA Libertad conflict retained in Ghana has a new victim: Argentina’s Navy chief of staff Admiral Carlos Alberto Paz tendered his resignation and was replaced by his deputy Vice-Admiral Daniel Alberto Martin.
Paraguay confident it can recover the Chilean beef market as it has with Russia
Paraguay expects a significant upsurge in beef sales this year, despite the reported outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, because of the strong demand from Russia, according to local analysts.
Brazil implements racial and income affirmative action at federal universities
The law which forces Brazilian federal universities to leave 50% of higher education seats to students from government schools and minorities such as blacks and indigenous became effective on Monday.
UK to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan next year
Britain plans to withdraw thousands of troops from Afghanistan next year, Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said, as pressure mounts to end British involvement in the costly and unpopular war.
Soros suggests that if Germany does not lead, it should leave the Euro
The European Union could be destroyed by the “nightmare” Euro crisis, and Germany needs to take the responsibility to save the common currency, billionaire fund manager George Soros said on Monday.
Fungal meningitis from contaminated steroid injections keeps expanding in the US
Fungal meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated steroid injections expanded in the United States to 15 states as Pennsylvania reported its first case of the disease that has killed 15 people nationwide.
Brazil insists in criticizing US monetary policy, but “we are prepared”
Brazil’s central bank president Alexandre Tombini refuted on Monday arguments that the US expansionist monetary policy do not harm emerging countries such as Brazil.
