Stories for April 8th 2011

Friday, April 8th 2011 - 20:06 UTC
US military Unified Command Plan reflect the growing importance of the Arctic

Changes made to the US military’s Unified Command Plan shift geographic boundaries and stress the growing importance of the Arctic, US Pentagon officials said in an American Forces press service
Friday, April 8th 2011 - 20:04 UTC
Deadly bacteria named after New Delhi triggers controversy with India

International health journal Lancet on Friday accused the Indian government of being in denial over the issue of presence of drug-resistant bacteria NDM-1 in the public water system of Delhi and argued that the debate over the naming of the bug should not detract one from the health implications of the findings.
Friday, April 8th 2011 - 17:13 UTC
EU tells Portugal more reforms are needed to secure the 80 billion Euro bail-out

Euro zone finance ministers told Portugal that it would have to implement new economic reforms that went beyond those proposed by its outgoing government if it hoped to secure aid from the EU and IMF.
Friday, April 8th 2011 - 17:09 UTC
Spain an “insurmountable dam protecting the Euro zone” says Deputy PM

Spain has gone from being “another domino” to “an insurmountable dam that it protecting the Euro zone” due to its tough economic reforms, the government said Friday.
Friday, April 8th 2011 - 07:32 UTC
Brazilian inflation remains untameable; Real hits a new high

Brazilian inflation accelerated more than economists expected in March from a year earlier, led by food and transportation costs, taking the annual rate near the upper limit of the government’s target range. On Thursday the Brazilian currency Real also further strengthened to a record 1.58 to the US dollar in spite of the latest measures.
Friday, April 8th 2011 - 07:27 UTC
Brazil doubles tax on consumer credit to fight inflation

Brazil doubled a tax on consumer credit as the administration of President Dilma Rousseff’s shifts its focus to fighting inflation. Beginning Friday consumer loans, excluding mortgages, will be subject to a 3% annual tax, up from a previous rate of 1.5%, according to a Finance Ministry statement.
Friday, April 8th 2011 - 05:46 UTC
China plans fuel and rice prices “stabilization” to contain inflation

China will introduce tax measures to ensure sufficient fuel production if global oil prices exceed 130 US dollars a barrel, China National Radio reported Thursday. Domestic prices of gasoline and diesel may not be increased after crude reaches that level the state broadcasting system said quoting a National Development and Reform Commission official
Friday, April 8th 2011 - 03:14 UTC
Mercosur provides 3% of EU imports, which represent 20% of the block’s exports

“Argentina is not a great trade partner for the European Union in absolute terms, but the EU is a crucial partner for Argentina”, pointed out the head of the EU delegation in Buenos Aires Alfonso Diez Torres.
Friday, April 8th 2011 - 03:08 UTC
FAO food prices index drops 2.9% in March but is still 39% over a year ago

The FAO Food Price Index has dropped for the first time after eight months of continuous price spikes, FAO announced Thursday. The Index averaged 230 points in March 2011, down 2.9% from its peak in February, but still 37% above March 2010.
Friday, April 8th 2011 - 03:03 UTC
US retaliates expels Ecuadorean ambassador, but wants ‘positive’ relation with Quito

The United States expelled on Thursday Ecuador’s ambassador to Washington in retaliation for the expulsion of the top US diplomat in Quito. Within hours, Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa accused the US of infiltrating his country’s police.