Stories for April 30th 2009

Friday, May 1st 2009 - 06:26 UTC
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.
Friday, May 1st 2009 - 06:22 UTC
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.
Friday, May 1st 2009 - 00:40 UTC
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.
Friday, May 1st 2009 - 00:31 UTC
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.
Friday, May 1st 2009 - 00:28 UTC
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.
Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 23:33 UTC
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.
Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 23:29 UTC
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.
Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 23:26 UTC
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.
Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 12:37 UTC
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.
Thursday, April 30th 2009 - 12:35 UTC
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.