Stories for May 2014

Saturday, May 3rd 2014 - 05:43 UTC
Pope says Vatican finances must be transparent and aimed at helping the needy

Vatican administrators need a “change of mentality” and must ensure that the Holy See's finances are efficient, transparent and primarily aimed at helping the most needy, Pope Francis said on Friday.
Saturday, May 3rd 2014 - 05:39 UTC
Spain's economy shows timid performance but unemployment remains at 26%

Spain's economy expanded by 0.4% in the first quarter of the year topping the previous quarter's growth rate by two-tenths of a point, the National Statistics Institute, INE, confirmed. However unemployment remains at a record 25.93%.
Friday, May 2nd 2014 - 21:52 UTC
Sea coral cnidarian protein offers new barrier against HIV infection

National Cancer Institute researchers have discovered a new class of protein found in sea coral that appears able to prevent HIV from entering T cells. If the proteins can be adapted for use in sexual lubricants and gels, they could offer a new form of barrier against HIV infection.
Friday, May 2nd 2014 - 10:00 UTC
Uruguay confirmed a third pulp mill with construction beginning in 2017

Uruguay has confirmed a third pulp mill to be built to the north east of the country in Cerro Largo, while the second one, Montes del Plata on the River Plate and recently finished is to be formally inaugurated sometime between May 15 and 25, although production will be delayed for a few months since the second wharf is unfinished and the effluents plant non commissioned.
Friday, May 2nd 2014 - 09:54 UTC
Uruguay approves import of US fresh and frozen poultry

Uruguay has granted final approval for importing US fresh and frozen poultry and poultry products, including US fresh chicken, the USDA has announced.
Friday, May 2nd 2014 - 09:51 UTC
Petrobras concessions in Argentine Patagonia extended for ten years

The Argentine unit of Brazilian state-controlled oil giant Petrobras has signed an agreement with the Patagonian province of Rio Negro that extends its three concessions in that region for 10 years. The new deal was inked after the company renegotiated its contractual conditions with the provincial government.
Friday, May 2nd 2014 - 09:46 UTC
Major dairy farming invester in Uruguay sells land to recoup losses

NZ Farming Systems Uruguay, the dairy unit of Singapore-based Olam International in Uruguay, has sold some 7,771 hectares of farm land in Uruguay to local interests for about 53.7 million dollars in gross cash proceeds. The transactions would free up cash “for redeployment into more value-accretive projects,” Olam said in a statement.
Friday, May 2nd 2014 - 09:27 UTC
Uruguay's budget fiscal deficit climbs in March to its highest since October 2003

Uruguay's fiscal deficit climbed to 3.2% of GDP during March, the highest since October 2003, --equivalent to 1.69 billion dollars--, but Economy minister Mario Bergara said that there is no risk for “the sustainability of public accounts or sustainability of current macroeconomic policies”.
Friday, May 2nd 2014 - 09:11 UTC
Brazil denies financing Uruguay's project of a deep-sea port on the Atlantic

Brazil's economic and social bank, BNDES, denied it was intent in financing Uruguay's deep sea port on the Atlantic coast, as repeated sources in the Uruguayan government have indicated.
Friday, May 2nd 2014 - 09:03 UTC
Brazil confirms Mercosur/EU are ready to exchange proposals in a month's time

Brazil confirmed this week that for the end of May or early June, Mercosur will be presenting its joint tariff-reduction proposal to the European Union for the conclusion of an ambitious, but long delayed, cooperation and trade agreement.