Stories for July 2012

Monday, July 23rd 2012 - 04:22 UTC
Scientists discover whales learn to protect their ears from loud noise

Scientists have long known that man-made, underwater noises — from engines, sonar, weapons testing, and such industrial tools as air guns used in oil and gas exploration — are deafening whales and other sea mammals.
Monday, July 23rd 2012 - 04:15 UTC
After 18 years of negotiations Russia is member of World Trade Organization

President Vladimir Putin signed the bill ratifying Russia’s entry to the World Trade Organisation after 18 years of often acrimonious negotiations, the Kremlin press office said.
Monday, July 23rd 2012 - 04:06 UTC
EU parliament president warns economic crisis could spark “social explosion”

European Parliament president Martin Schulz warned this weekend that Spain's economic crisis could spark a “social explosion” across the continent.
Monday, July 23rd 2012 - 03:09 UTC
OAS will not sanction Paraguay, says ambassador following informal meeting

Paraguay will not be sanctioned by the Organization of American States, said the country’s ambassador on Friday following an informal meeting behind closed doors of OAS Permanent Council.
Monday, July 23rd 2012 - 02:55 UTC
Olympic Committee “glad” Argentina will avoid politically tainted demonstrations

The head of the International Olympic Committee Jacques Rogge assured he was “glad” that President Cristina Fernández had called the Argentine athletes to avoid demonstrations over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty dispute during the Olympic Games of London 2012.
Saturday, July 21st 2012 - 07:51 UTC
Chavez confirms Dilma’s invitation to Mercosur meeting in Rio on July 31

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez said he had talked with his peer from Brazil Dilma Rousseff who confirmed the invitation to an extraordinary meeting of Mercosur next July 31 in Rio do Janeiro.
Saturday, July 21st 2012 - 07:45 UTC
Good signals from the Brazilian economy: inflation picks up in mid July

Consumer prices in Brazil rose faster than expected in the month to mid-July on higher food costs, suggesting the central bank may have less room than previously believed to cut interest rates much further.
Saturday, July 21st 2012 - 07:38 UTC
Brazilian government cuts 2012 growth forecast from 4.5% to 3%

The Brazilian government said Friday it was cutting its economic growth forecast for this year from 4.5% to 3% due to the impact of the global slowdown. However the figure is still higher than the 2.5% predicted by the Central Bank.
Saturday, July 21st 2012 - 07:32 UTC
Bad news for Argentina: economy contracts and industrial production slumps

Argentina's economy contracted in May and industrial production slumped further in June, according to government data released on Friday. Economic activity fell 0.5% in May year-on-year, slowing from April's 0.6% growth rate and marking the first contraction in 34 months.
Saturday, July 21st 2012 - 07:28 UTC
EU considering a new round of discussions with Mercosur before end of 2012

The European Union - Mercosur trade negotiations calendar has been delayed and its full resumption is expected to take place in September or soon after, reports the EU press office in Montevideo.