Stories for May 12th 2011

Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 22:18 UTC
Mercosur institutionalization and image lifting, High Commissioner targets

Institutionalization of Mercosur and changing its public opinion image are the main issues Brazil’s Samuel Pinheiro Guimaraes plans to address, at his new post of Mercosur High Representative-General since February.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 20:22 UTC
Killing of bank guard unveils Uruguay’s dilemma with expanding insecurity

Activities in Uruguay’s private bank branches were partially altered Thursday following the killing earlier in the week of a security guard during a robbery attempt. This was the seventh bank robbery since the beginning of the year and triggered a controversy between the banks and the Ministry of Interior.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 20:05 UTC
Italy’s Draghi receives support from Angela Merkel as next ECB president

German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed support for Italy’s Mario Draghi as the next president of the European Central Bank, removing the final obstacle to his appointment to Europe’s top monetary post.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 19:12 UTC
Japan’s current account surplus falls 34.3% in March, because of tsunami

Japan's current account surplus fell by 34.3% in March compared with the same month a year ago, after a massive quake and tsunami devastated exports, according to the latest release from the Ministry of Finance.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 19:07 UTC
Baltic Sea patched with ‘dead zones’ reveals research expedition

A research expedition in the Baltic Sea has yielded spectacular photos of surprisingly colourful life below the calm surface. But the images also reveal a more sinister reality -- the alarming spread of “dead zones” threatening aquatic life.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 18:32 UTC
Brazilian president promises land reform and distribution for family settlers

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff claimed that land reform was needed to eradicate poverty, avoid overcrowding in urban areas and as a matter of justice for the long delayed distribution of land.“
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 16:46 UTC
EU votes for mandatory labeling or real fur or leather content in textiles

Consumers will no longer risk inadvertently buying textiles that contain real fur or leather, thanks to new textile labeling rules approved by the European Parliament.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 16:41 UTC
Mercosur largest economies ‘inconveniences’ delaying trade accord with EU

The existence of ‘inconveniences’ with Mercosur largest economies is delaying reaching a trade agreement with the European Union, according to Germany’s Ambassador before the government of Paraguay, Claude Robert Ellner.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 15:56 UTC
Falklands’ pilgrimage of HMS Fearless veterans to honor fallen comrades

Ten veterans of HMS Fearless, deployed as part of Operation Corporate during the 1982 Falklands conflict, were reunited on a pilgrimage to the Falklands this week.
Thursday, May 12th 2011 - 06:52 UTC
Controversial questions on Ecuadorian referendum falling short of approval

The latest official data from Ecuador's referendum vote shows a slim margin in favor of the 'No' vote on two of the most controversial questions which relate to the judicial system and the media. Critics say the questions seek to curb press freedom and judicial independence.