MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2012, MercoPress. http://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[Spanish government to unveil drastic reforms to rigid labour legislation]]> Rajoy with an economy in recession faces 24% unemployment which soars to 50% for young Spaniards Spain's government will unveil reforms to rigid labour laws on Friday that it hopes will be radical enough to get to grips with sky-high unemployment while not severing links altogether with unions ahead of key regional elections.

]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:47:00 GMT <![CDATA[Euro zone rate left unchanged; all eyes set on how to save Greece from default]]> Deagui; “economic outlook remains subject to high uncertainty and downside risks” The European Central Bank kept interest rates on hold on Thursday and altered its assessment of risks to the economic outlook as investors focus on the ECB possible role in helping Greece avoid default.

]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:30:00 GMT <![CDATA[Bank of England pumps an extra £ 50bn to boost the UK economy]]> Fears of deflation prompted the BoE to act Bank of England has agreed to extend its quantitative easing (QE) program by £50bn to give a further boost to the UK economy. When completed, it will bring the total amount of QE stimulus to £325bn.

]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:25:00 GMT <![CDATA[Judge Garzon barred from office for challenging Spanish 1977 amnesty law]]> The Judge is also famous for trying to extradite Chilean dictator Pinochet from UK The famous human rights crusader, the Spanish judge who won fame with his attempt to extradite former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in the 1990s, is barred from office for eleven years for abusing judicial powers.

]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:20:00 GMT <![CDATA[“People of the Falklands want to remain British” and they will be defended]]> PM Cameron: “an absolutely key part of the United Nations Charter is to support self determination” UK Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday no one should doubt his determination to keep the Falkland Islands British as he dismissed President Cristina Fernández announced complaint to the United Nations.

]]> Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:54:00 GMT <![CDATA[Eight ton whale shark hauled out of the water: Largest catch?]]> In spite of its size whale sharks are filter feeder and pose little danger to humans (Photo: Fahim Siddiqui / White Star) A group of Pakistani fishermen caught a monstrous whale shark in the Arabian Sea. A video clip was posted on YouTube showing the fish, about 40 feet long and six feet wide, being hauled in at the port using cranes in the Pakistani city of Karachi.

]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:57:00 GMT <![CDATA[Argentina has no more claim to the Falklands than Canada does to Alaska]]> George Grant is a Research Fellow at The Henry Jackson Society in London Argentina has no more claim to the Falklands than Canada does to Alaska Giving the Falkland Islands to Argentina makes as much sense as giving Alaska to Canada: none whatsoever, says George Grant.

]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:28:00 GMT <![CDATA[Argentina is welcome to take Falklands ‘militarization’ to UN, but also principle of self determination]]> MLA Summers: military footprint in Falklands “has diminished considerably” There was considerable anticipation and speculation in the Falkland Islands on Tuesday as residents and visitors alike waited to hear Argentine president Cristina Kirchner’s much-publicized evening announcement.

]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:56:00 GMT <![CDATA[Oil rig operating in the Falklands signs three year contract off Norway]]> Leiv Eirikson arrived from Greenland and is expected to return northbound end of 2012, beginning 2013 A consortium of companies appears to be spending a large day-rate on an Ocean Rig unit which has been fixed for a firm three years off Norway. The semi-submersible Leiv Eiriksson, currently operating in Falklands waters has been wrapped up for a 15-well program over a minimum of 1070 days on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, Greek rig owner Ocean Rig said on Monday.

]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:57:00 GMT <![CDATA[“There is a point where Islanders will say to the Argentines, 'To hell with you.'”]]> Governor Haywood at his office, simple but impressive, so much that the Argentine General Menendez during the occupation did not rearrange the furniture or even take the Queen's portrait off the wall. The following piece was published by The Independent, an interview of the Falkland Islands Governor Nigel Haywood by Falklands-born writer, journalist and expert in Latin American and defense affairs, Graham Bound.

]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:57:00 GMT