Stories for 2009

Thursday, November 5th 2009 - 05:42 UTC
Chinese company buys oil assets in the US for the first time

Chinese energy giant China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has bought oil assets in the US for the first time. CNOOC purchased limited stakes in four deepwater exploitation licences in the Gulf of Mexico from Norway's Statoil. The size of the deal is secret, but Statoil said it was small.
Thursday, November 5th 2009 - 05:34 UTC
GM decision to hang on to European subsidiaries triggers controversy

General Motors decision to hang on to its European car unit Opel including Vauxhall in Britain, was welcomed in the UK but met with anger in Germany. Unite union chief Tony Woodley, a former Vauxhall worker, hailed the news as a “fantastic decision”.
Thursday, November 5th 2009 - 05:21 UTC
Gold at all time record following India’s purchase of IMF metal reserves

The price of gold has touched an all-time high after a large sale of the precious metal by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to India. Gold struck a high of 1,095.05 an ounce in London, against 1,084.50 late in New York on Tuesday.
Wednesday, November 4th 2009 - 22:38 UTC
Falkland Islands votes on Thursday for new Legislative Assembly

Businessmen Sawle tops Falkland’s election online poll.
RETIRED businessman Richard ‘Dick’ Sawle (55) was earlier today at the head of an unofficial online poll of Falklands General Election voters. England-born Dick, owner of successful multi-million-pound fishing business Seaview Ltd, appears to have captured the hearts of the Stanley constituency with his promise to, “Listen, learn and act.”
Wednesday, November 4th 2009 - 13:21 UTC
Honduran presidential hopefuls sign democracy and governance pact

Four of the six candidates for Honduras presidential election next November 29th signed Tuesday the social pact to strengthen democracy, peace and freedom, one of several steps agreed last week to end the four months institutional crisis of the Central American country, according to political sources.
Wednesday, November 4th 2009 - 13:18 UTC
Peruvian regional initiative to cut military expenditure and fight poverty

Peru launched in Argentina its peace, security and cooperation initiative to reduce arms purchases in the region and to lower expenditure on military hardware.
Wednesday, November 4th 2009 - 13:17 UTC
Two million British children have no parent in work

The number of children in British families living on benefits has increased by 170,000 over the past year, with child poverty growing in affluent as well as traditionally hard hit areas, according to a new report.
Wednesday, November 4th 2009 - 13:14 UTC
Ireland and Spain forecasted to remain in recession well into 2011

The European Union's economy is set to rebound in 2010, recording a growth rate of 0.7% before accelerating to a rate of 1.6% in 2011, the bloc's executive said Tuesday. However some economies will emerge from recession faster than others and among those lagging well into 2011 are Spain and Ireland.
Wednesday, November 4th 2009 - 13:10 UTC
Major restructure of British banks includes more injection of funds

Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling welcomed Tuesday the announcements that Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group are to sell off hundreds of branches.
Wednesday, November 4th 2009 - 13:03 UTC
Brazilian opposition to vote against Venezuela in Mercosur

The Brazilian opposition announced it will attempt to delay as much as possible the Senate vote on the incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur which is scheduled to take place Wednesday following the approval by the Foreign Affaire committee last week.