Stories for January 3rd 2013

Thursday, January 3rd 2013 - 15:41 UTC
Brazil posts smallest annual trade surplus since 2002; sales to Argentina drop 20.7%

Brazil posted its smallest annual trade surplus in a decade last year as a sluggish global economy curbed demand for its products despite government efforts to boost exports. Brazil's trade surplus fell 35% to 19.44 billion dollars from the prior year, the weakest performance since 2002, Trade Ministry data showed on Wednesday.
Thursday, January 3rd 2013 - 15:35 UTC
The elusive pygmy right whale in the Southern Hemisphere, “a living fossil”

The pygmy right whale, a mysterious and elusive creature that rarely comes to shore, is the last living relative of an ancient group of whales long believed to be extinct, a new study suggests. The findings, published last month in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, may help to explain why the enigmatic marine mammals look so different from any other living whale.
Thursday, January 3rd 2013 - 06:16 UTC
Chile becomes the sixth country to ban Brazilian beef because of atypical BSE

Chile joined five other countries that have banned imports of Brazilian beef, since a case of atypical mad cow disease was confirmed last month, Brazil's foreign trade secretary Tatiana Prazeres said on Wednesday.
Thursday, January 3rd 2013 - 06:02 UTC
Record purchase of US dollars to keep Uruguayan Peso from further appreciation

Uruguay’s Central bank on Wednesday made its largest purchase of US dollars on record totalling 120 million dollars following on the bank’s monetary committee decision in the last week of 2012 to increase the basic rate to 9.25% as the country struggles to contain inflation.
Thursday, January 3rd 2013 - 05:52 UTC
Recreation of Shackleton 1914 survival epic planned for 20 January

Six British and Australian adventurers are setting off to recreate one of the greatest journeys of human survival. In 1914, Ernest Shackleton, the seasoned British explorer, set out to better Scott and Amundsen by attempting the first-ever crossing of the Antarctic.
Thursday, January 3rd 2013 - 00:40 UTC
Uruguayan president believes Argentine economy “can’t remain closed much longer”

President Jose Mujica anticipated that the Argentine economy can’t remain ‘closed for much more time’ (protectionist) and forecasted that 2013 will be a ‘clear year’ for Uruguay regarding economic issues.
Thursday, January 3rd 2013 - 00:31 UTC
Cristina Fernandez asks Cameron to return the Falklands “forcibly stripped” in 1833

Prime Minister David Cameron must return the Falkland Islands to Argentina, 180 years after the territories were “forcibly stripped” from Buenos Aires, President Cristina Fernandez has claimed in UK newspaper adverts scheduled to be published on Thursday and which has been anticipated.
Thursday, January 3rd 2013 - 00:20 UTC
Poor performance of Brazilian economy last year: estimates average 0.98% growth

Economists cut their estimates for economic growth in Brazil to 0.98% this year, a central bank survey showed, highlighting the sharp slowdown of an economy that just a couple of years ago was an emerging market star.
Thursday, January 3rd 2013 - 00:16 UTC
EU investing heavily to prevent African swine fever spreading from Russia

The European Union will invest €1.4 million to control African swine fever on the Italian island of Sardinia in 2013. The island is the only place in the EU where African Swine Fever (ASF) is still present.
Thursday, January 3rd 2013 - 00:09 UTC
Ovine Brucellosis spreading throughout Australia’s Northern Territory

Recent positive tests, and ongoing concerns that Ovine Brucellosis is spreading throughout Australia, has prompted the country’s Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA) to encourage all sheep producers to test their rams for ovine brucellosis.