Stories for April 2013

Saturday, April 6th 2013 - 03:44 UTC
Brazil hopeful an EU/Mercosur trade accord can be concluded this year

Brazilian Foreign minister Antonio Patriota said he was hopeful that the European Union and Mercosur could advance this year towards a trade agreement they have been negotiating so far unsuccessfully for almost fifteen years and also warned about the coming EU/US trade talks for a comprehensive accord.
Friday, April 5th 2013 - 21:38 UTC
US report shows more E.coli in urban waterways runoff areas than from animal production facilities

Studies by the United States Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist Mark Ibekwe suggest that in some parts of California, pathogens in local waterways are more often carried there via runoff from urban areas, not from animal production facilities
Friday, April 5th 2013 - 21:35 UTC
One in three adults in the Americas suffers from high blood pressure, says PAHO

At least one in three adults in the Americas has high blood pressure, or hypertension, the number-one risk factor cardiovascular disease and death throughout the world. Hypertension is believed to affect nearly 1 billion people worldwide.
Friday, April 5th 2013 - 07:18 UTC
Argentina strongly protests President Mujica remarks about Nestor and Cristina Kirchner

Uruguayan president José Mujica’s controversial statements caught on an open microphone referred to President Cristina Fernandez and her late husband Nestor Kirchner, triggered a strong response from the Argentine government saying that such comments are “unacceptable, denigrating and offend the memory of a dead person”.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 22:24 UTC
“The old lady is worse than the cross-eyed man” says President Mujica

Uruguay’s President Jose Mujica, speaking without realizing a microphone was on, referred to Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as that ‘old lady’ saying she is “worse” than her late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 22:20 UTC
“If the Euro is to survive”, centralized banking supervision and unlimited liquidity are crucial

Creating an EU banking union with a centralized supervisory and restructuring board plus telling the European Central Bank to provide unlimited liquidity to maintain the payments system are crucial if the Euro is to survive, according to a leading German economist from the European Bruegel think-tank analyzing the ongoing banking and confidence crisis triggered by Cyprus.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 22:15 UTC
Falklands-related protests are common, warns the UK travel advice on Argentina

Most visits to Argentina are trouble-free, but you should keep a close eye on your personal belongings in public places and there have been occasional Falklands-related protests against British interests in Argentina.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 22:13 UTC
ECB monetary policy ‘accommodative’ but governments need to play their share

The European Central Bank cannot step into the breach left by a lack of political action to solve the region's debt crisis, but is ready to do whatever it can to help, ECB chief Mario Draghi said on Thursday.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 22:11 UTC
BoE ready to pump liquidity if first quarter confirms UK back in recession

The Bank of England has decided not to expand its stimulus program of quantitative easing and has also kept interest rates unchanged at 0.5%. The decision had been widely expected, despite concerns over the strength of the UK economy. The rate has been at that level since March 2009.
Thursday, April 4th 2013 - 22:05 UTC
France and Spain rocked by corruption scandals in the political system

French President Francois Hollande has promised sweeping new anti-corruption measures, a day after his former budget minister admitted having had a secret foreign bank account containing hundreds of thousands of Euros.