International

• Monday, March 10th 2014 - 06:24 UTC

  Brazil opens the ninth World Cup stadium; three more on the waiting list

  

  Brazilian officials inaugurated the Arena da Amazonia in the Amazon city of Manaus, the ninth World Cup stadium to become available for soccer’s showcase event. Three still have to be finished, including the one hosting the opening match in Sao Paulo in about three months.

• Monday, March 10th 2014 - 06:12 UTC

  Atlantic patrol HMS Portland conducted joint exercises with Nigerian navy

  

  Royal Navy Type 23 Frigate HMS Portland on Atlantic patrol is visiting Western Africa and conducted training with the Nigerian Navy, hosted a Security Forum in support of United Kingdom Trade and Industry and a maritime security conference.

• Monday, March 10th 2014 - 06:04 UTC

  Pope Francis names finance personalities to the Vatican Economy Council

  

  Pope Francis named top laymen from the worlds of finance and economics to a new Vatican Council for the Economy, intended to improve scrutiny of the Holy See's scandal-plagued accounts.The creation of the 15-member council is a major step in bringing lay people into the Vatican, and reflects a drive by Francis to make changes to an establishment often seen as murky and secretive.

• Monday, March 10th 2014 - 05:57 UTC

  Alejandro Zaffaroni, Uruguayan biochemist developer of the birth control pill, dies at 91

  

  The following is an obituary published in The New York Times to honor a Uruguayan born scientist, graduated in Montevideo's Medicine School, who in his long career in the US is credited with having developed the birth control pill and the nicotine patches among other biotechnological advances.

• Saturday, March 8th 2014 - 06:19 UTC

  Military personnel in Falkland Islands totals 1.060, says MoD

  

  There are currently 1,060 military personnel stationed in the Falkland Islands, confirmed the Minister of State for the Ministry of Defense Mark Francois on Wednesday, according to a report from the latest edition of the Falklands' Penguin News.

• Saturday, March 8th 2014 - 06:02 UTC

  February experienced a sharp increase in FAO Food Prices Index

  

  Weather-related events and increased demand came into play as the FAO Food Price Index registered its sharpest increase since mid-2012, averaging 208.1 points in February 2014. The new level is 5.2 points, or 2.6%, above a slightly revised index for January, but is still 2.1% lower than last year at the same time.

• Friday, March 7th 2014 - 05:02 UTC

  OAS leader compares the 'dynamic imbalance' in trade talks EU/US and EU with Mercosur

  

  The dynamic imbalance in trade negotiations is clearly evident in the case of trade negotiations of Canada and the US with the European Union, and what happens with EU/Mercosur trade talks that have been going for seventeen years, with no clear results yet, according to OAS Secretary General Miguel Insulza.

• Friday, March 7th 2014 - 04:48 UTC

  MSC Certification for Falkland Islands Toothfish reflects high management standards

  

  Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification has been granted to the Falklands Islands Toothfish longline fishery, announced on Thursday Consolidated Fisheries Ltd. (CFL). The fishery is the first in the Falkland Islands to be certified and reflects the high standards of fisheries management and environmental measures practised within the Islands on the Patagonian toothfish fishery.

• Friday, March 7th 2014 - 04:41 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez wants France to lobby before the Paris Club

  

  President Cristina Fernandez is expected to visit France for the opening of Paris Book Show, with a great display of Argentine culture and conferences, but most important she will be meeting on 19 March with her peer Francois Hollande to strongly lobby for a better deal with the Paris Club for the payment of a defaulted debt of 10bn dollars dating back to 2001.

• Friday, March 7th 2014 - 03:08 UTC

  UK health authorities warn travelers to Brazil World Cup about tropical diseases

  

  UK's Public Health England (PHE) and National Travel Health Network and Center (NaTHNaC9 have produced a factsheet for football fans going to Brazil for the FIFA Football World Cup from 12 June to 13 July 2014 with information on how to stay healthy and keep safe.