Stories for March 12th 2014

Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - 09:13 UTC
Mining companies shares down hit by a slump in the price of iron ore

Shares in some of the world's biggest mining companies have been hit by a slump in the price of iron ore, amid fears of a slowdown in China's economy. Iron ore delivered into China fell 8.3% on Monday after Beijing reported weak export data over the weekend.
Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - 08:50 UTC
Chronic kidney disease affects an estimated one in ten adults, says PAHO/WHO

Diabetes and high blood pressure, together with aging, are the main risk factors for developing chronic kidney disease, which affects an estimated one in 10 adults globally, according to studies.
Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - 07:55 UTC
Bachelet pledges to tackle 'inequality' and draft a new constitution

Socialist Michelle Bachelet promised to tackle inequality as she took the oath of office on Tuesday, returning to power after four years to lead Chile. Bachelet succeeds conservative Sebastian Piñera, who said he was leaving his successor “a better country than the one we had four years ago.”
Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - 07:49 UTC
Ecuador's Lasso Mendoza elected chair of the 2014 Decolonization Committee

Ecuador' Xavier Lasso Mendoza was elected by 'acclamation' as Chair of the 2014 session of the Special Committee on Decolonization together with Rodolfo Reyes Rodríguez (Cuba), Vandi Chidi Minah (Sierra Leone) and Desra Percaya (Indonesia), as Vice-Chairs, and Bashar Ja’afari (Syria), as Rapporteur, according to the UN release.
Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - 07:43 UTC
“Encouraging signs of rejuvenation” from the UN Decolonization Committee

For the first time in many years, the UN decolonization unit held several meetings with each of the four administering powers: United Kingdom, France, New Zealand and the United States, as well as various other “stakeholders”, in order to identify next steps in the decolonization process.
Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - 07:35 UTC
Manufacturing remains the weakest link of the Brazilian economy

Industrial production in Brazil rose 2.9% in January from December, government statistics agency IBGE said on Tuesday led by a jump in capital goods production.
Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - 07:28 UTC
Brazil car production up in February but sales dropped in the two months

Motor vehicle production in Brazil surged in February after auto workers returned from vacations, but production remains below levels seen in 2013 and sales have also dropped in the first two months of the year.
Wednesday, March 12th 2014 - 07:22 UTC
Unasur foreign ministers expected to call for dialogue and peace talks in Venezuela

Foreign ministers from Unasur (Union of South American Nations) will be drafting a statement calling for peace and dialogue to end the month-long clashes in Venezuela when they be meeting on Wednesday in Santiago de Chile. The meeting and agenda have the support from the Venezuelan government.