Stories for June 3rd 2011

Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 23:54 UTC
With no accord on US debt limit, Moody’s could downgrade US ratings

Moody's has warned it may downgrade the US debt rating if Congress fails to increase the US debt limit in the coming weeks and risks default. The agency warned of political “entrenchment” preventing an increase.
Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 23:48 UTC
A split Argentine opposition names two presidential tickets and more could come

Two Argentine opposition groups announced this week their presidential tickets for the coming October election that are expected to compete with President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner who has to yet confirm her bid even when all opinion polls show her a clear winner in the first round.
Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 23:44 UTC
Consumer inflation in Uruguay climbs to an annualized 8.53%

Consumer prices in Uruguay rose sharply again in May, led by steep increases in prices at restaurants and hotels, for housing and for health costs accumulating 8.53% in the last twelve months and 4.34% in the five months of 2011.
Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 23:37 UTC
Claims of stolen babies: DNA tests for adopted heirs of Argentine media group

An Argentine court ruled this week that the adopted children of one of the country’s largest media group must submit to DNA tests to determine if they were stolen as babies during Argentina's military dictatorship.
Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 23:29 UTC
Brazil expanded at an annualized 5% in first quarter, will grow “modestly” in 2Q

Brazil's first quarter GDP grew 1.3% compared to the previous quarter – an annualized rate of over 5% – and 4.2% against the first quarter of 2010 revealed on Friday the Brazilian government.
Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 23:22 UTC
White House admits jobless rate is “unacceptably high” following May’s 9.1%

White House said on Friday the US unemployment rate was unacceptably high while trying to put a brave face on a report that showed employers hired far fewer workers than expected in May.
Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 23:19 UTC
Greece is not Uruguay; the Athens debt case is more like Argentina, says economist

Past voluntary debt re-profiling in Latin America have worked to varying degrees, but “soft” restructuring is not going to solve Greece's debt problems, according to Stuart Culverhouse, chief economist of frontier markets specialist Exotix.
Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 18:24 UTC
Falkland Islands Government on Twitter

The Falkland Islands Government has moved into the world of micro-blogging. The global phenomenon of Twitter has been rapidly changing the way that we communicate and is widely used by international journalists as an important source of information.
Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 18:01 UTC
Penguins’ winter huddle clusters are all the time on motion to keep warm

The mystery of how penguins stay warm while they huddle has been revealed by an international team of scientists. Emperor penguins survive the tough Antarctic winters by forming tightly packed clusters - but scientists have pondered how penguins on the outside stay as cosy as those in the centre.
Friday, June 3rd 2011 - 17:58 UTC
Deadly new strain of E.Coli has been detected in 12 countries, including US

The deadly new strain of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) (E.coli) that is capable of spreading from person to person has now been detected in at least 12 countries, the World Health Organization said on Friday.