Stories for April 1st 2009
US and Gibraltar sign agreement to exchange data on tax matters
United States Department of the Treasury and the Government of Gibraltar announced in London in the framework of the G20 summit that the two countries have signed an agreement to allow for exchange of information on tax matters between the United States and Gibraltar, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.
Obama warns peers against giving in to “fear” and blame game
US President Barack Obama warned G20 leaders against giving in to “fear” and getting into a blame game, on the eve of the crunch summit to rescue the global economy. At a joint press conference with Gordon Brown, the president admitted that the US had some “accounting to do” over its responsibility for the crisis. But he also insisted that financial regulatory systems had been “mismatched” all around the world.
G20 summit hammering out consensus for Thursday’s formal meeting
France and Germany called for tougher regulation for the world's financial system during the first day of the G20 summit in London. French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has threatened to walk out of the meeting, said that new financial regulation was a “non-negotiable goal”.
Argentina mourns the leader who paved the way to democracy in 1983
Raúl Alfonsín whose presidency marked the return of democracy to Argentina and became a beacon for change in the rest of Latinamerica scourged by an era of military dictatorships, died Tuesday evening.
Argentina forecasted to export 10 million tons less of soy this year
Argentina’s soybean crop is estimated to drop ten million tons this year with exports totalling 37 to 39 million, which means the country will receive 3.5 billion US dollars less and the administration of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will see revenues contract by 1.2 billion US dollars.
UK debt and deficit in excess of EU guidelines and climbing
The United Kingdom government debt rose to £750.3 billion in 2008, more than half of gross domestic product (GDP), according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Developing world GDP forecasted to expand 2.1% this year
GDP growth in the developing world will slow to a projected 2.1% in 2009 from 5.8% in 2008, according to World Bank estimates released Wednesday. The Bank has more than halved its November 2008 projection of 4.4% growth in developing countries in 2009, reflecting the rapid deterioration of global financial and economic conditions.
Obama in London to convince G-20 he can lead the world out of recession
United States President Barack Obama is in the United Kingdom for his first major foreign trip since taking office in January. In London he is to attend the G20 summit of the world’s 20 major economies representing 85% of global GDP, which is hosted by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The two will have breakfast talks in Downing Street on Wednesday followed by meetings with other world leaders.
South American and Arab leaders agree on trade and investments
South American leaders underscored the importance of economic and political ties with the Arab world in a summit meeting with their Arab counterparts in Qatar. Tuesday's meeting, the second Arab-South American summit, in Doha, followed the conclusion of the Arab League conference in the city.
Imagine Falklands and Gibraltar naval facilities under EU control and flag
Britain's naval bases around the world should be put under the control of the European Union, according to a report commissioned by the Brussels Parliament and which was leaked to the British press this week.
