International

• Friday, April 26th 2013 - 14:39 UTC

  Chinese scientists confirm new bird flu strain jumped from chickens to humans

  

  Chinese scientists have confirmed for the first time that a new strain of bird flu that has killed 23 people in China has been transmitted to humans from chickens. In a study published online in the Lancet medical journal, the scientists echoed previous statements from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Chinese officials that there is as yet no evidence of human-to-human transmission of this virus.

• Friday, April 26th 2013 - 07:46 UTC

  Falkland Islands’ lawmakers in a round of European visits to inform on referendum results

  

  A delegation of Falkland Islands lawmakers made a round of visits to European capitals and the European Union to inform on the recent referendum results in which an overwhelming turnout and vote indisputably decided the Islands wanted to remain as an Overseas Territory.

• Friday, April 26th 2013 - 07:40 UTC

  Unemployment in Spain with no ceiling: 27% in first quarter of 2013

  

  The Spanish National Statistics Institute, INE, reported on Thursday that the nation's unemployment rate shot up from 26.02% in the last quarter of 2012 to 27.16% in the first three months of this year. This is approximately 6.2 million Spaniards are out of a job. Youth unemployment stands at 57%.

• Friday, April 26th 2013 - 07:29 UTC

  Berlusconi emerges as the great saviour of the current Italian political stalemate

  

  Silvio Berlusconi, the three-time prime minister and two-time convicted lawbreaker seems to be the great victor in Italy by out-manoeuvring rivals during an eight-week political stalemate and becoming the key figure in talks for a new coalition government.

• Friday, April 26th 2013 - 07:25 UTC

  UK spring surprise: economy expands 0.3% in first quarter

  

  Britain has avoided falling into its third recession since the 2008 global financial crisis, after the economy grew by a better-than-expected 0.3% in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the final three months of last year, official data showed on Thursday.

• Thursday, April 25th 2013 - 22:39 UTC

  Barrick Gold considering suspension of 8.5bn mine development in the Andes

  

  Canada’s Barrick Gold Corp making a painful adjustment to a sustained slump in bullion prices, reported progress in controlling costs and said it planned further cuts in capital spending.

• Thursday, April 25th 2013 - 22:11 UTC

  A Brazilian or a Mexican will replace Lamy as head of World Trade Organization

  

  The next head of the World Trade Organization will be either Mexico's Herminio Blanco or Brazil's Roberto Azevedo, guaranteeing a Latin American nation will hold the top job at the global trade body for the first time, although they made it to the short list in previous occasions-.

• Thursday, April 25th 2013 - 21:51 UTC

  Economy minister and aides tell Greek television: “in Argentina we don’t discuss inflation”

  

  Economy minister Hernan Lorenzino became the laughing stock of Argentina when a video was revealed showing him suspending an interview with Greek television arguing that Argentine inflation ‘is too complex’ and telling his aides, ‘I want to leave’. One of the aides then tells the Greek reporter that in Argentina ‘we don’t discuss inflation’.

• Thursday, April 25th 2013 - 19:44 UTC

  Falkland Islands’ Desk in Foreign Office impresses visiting Chevening scholars

  

  Two Chevening scholars from British Overseas Territories visited the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and were impressed at the number of staff focused on the Falklands and their knowledge and proactive stance towards the Islands.

• Thursday, April 25th 2013 - 18:46 UTC

  China confirms is has become Australia’s main client for beef and veal

  

  Australia’s beef and veal exports for March increased 5% year-on-year, to 87,742 tonnes swt, with the Chinese market again setting a monthly record high, at 12,320 tonnes swt (Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries).