arietta

Standard & Poor's (S & P) has increased the pressure leading exercise several weeks on the U.S. sovereign debt. The credit rating agency has warned it may cut its credit note current 'AAA', the maximum possible, to 'D' level of default, if no agreement is reached to raise the debt ceiling this year.

As explained by one of the executives of the firm, John Chambers, "any government that does not pay on time the note is lowered to that level," so if the federal government fails to extend the limit and delay payments, would result in your score.

In this sense, Chambers pointed out that this increase in borrowing limit from the U.S. government would not be a new situation, and that "they have gone up 78 times or so since 1960, often at the last moment, and thought that this time also happen that way. "

The three major rating agencies, S & P, Fitch and Moody's, have repeatedly warned of the consequences of maintaining the federal debt ceiling for the rating of sovereign debt. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has, but with emphasis on its effects on the economy.

Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, and Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano today signed a joint agreement on cooperation in science and technology for national security.

This is to share good practices to prevent and detect threats, and strengthen the ongoing efforts to promote bilateral cooperation in science and technology have a direct impact on national security.

According to a statement from the Spanish Interior Ministry, the agreement highlights the importance of protecting critical infrastructure to improve trade flows and the citizens of both countries.

This, stressing the need to intensify research, evaluation and protection measures chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and against the use of explosives.

Pérez Rubalcaba, also vice president of the Interior and Napolitano reaffirmed in the context of the G-6 ministers and United States, the importance of collaboration between Spain and the United States in combating international threats.

Such collaboration is needed, they said, to reduce vulnerabilities and facilitate response to incidents in those areas that may cause a significant economic impact or safety.

Through collaboration with the private sector, public organizations and academic institutions, this agreement will support joint scientific and technological solutions through a variety of performances following.

These are: the exchange of technology, people and information, joint research and coordinated training of scientists and experts and developing technologies that help prevent and respond to threats to national security.

Moreover, the promotion and development of transportation security, protection of critical infrastructure and the creation of working groups, scientific seminars and conferences to discuss emerging challenges for national security.

Also, the exchange of information on practices, laws, regulations, standards, methods and programs for scientific cooperation.

Finally, the joint use of laboratories to carry out, in the scientific and technological research, development, testing and evaluation.

Generalde Directorate Infrastructure and Security of the Ministry of Interior is the body responsible for implementing the agreement by the Spanish administration.

Also, the Undersecretary of Science and Technology Department of Homeland Security is responsible for executive oversight of the agreement by the U.S. government.

European interior ministers of the G6 and its U.S. counterpart on Thursday in Madrid felt it urgent to try to curb the spread of Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and its weaponry through Libya, said Spanish Interior Minister.

"The Libyan crisis is having an influence on AQIM, in particular one that seems especially negative is the appearance of the Libyan army weapons, or what remains of it in the hands of terrorists," he said.

"If we do not activate more of our plans, AQIM can exploit this to grow, and if it grows AQIM crecerjá (...) grow organized crime and the risk to Europe and America," he warned, in a press conference with Secretary U.S. Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano.

So the G6 Interior Ministers will be asked to convene a joint meeting of the Sahel with its foreign counterparts and the U.S..

They also asked the African Union (AU) to establish a joint strategy to combat terrorism, he added.

The G6, which has existed since 2003, is an informal group of the six largest EU countries (Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Poland).

"There are arms trafficking in the border between Libya and Mali, and therefore it has to worry because (...) can be at this time nurturing arms of a certain level of sophistication," he said.

"At this point, AQIM is concentrated in Mauritania, Niger, Mali" and "vocation is spread throughout the Sahel and even the rest of the Maghreb," said Rubalcaba, who recalled that the organization was established in Algeria.

"We can not rule it out of its natural environment, is a regional franchise that acts like Al Qaida, which overflows its geographical sphere of action," he warned.

It has bases in northern Mali, from which organized the attacks and kidnappings Sahel, especially Westerners.

AQIM has held since September to four French and one Italian.