Stories for October 2010

Friday, October 22nd 2010 - 02:18 UTC
Ecuador signs two new service contracts with oil companies

Ecuadorean president Rafael Correa said on Thursday the country had finished negotiations with two oil companies and planned to sign the new service contracts before November 23.
Friday, October 22nd 2010 - 02:15 UTC
Strong support from the European Parliament to trade talks with Mercosur

Members of the European Parliament expressed strong support for expanding trade with Mercosur but subject to clear “red lines” to ensure food security and prevent further environmental damage, said a resolution adopted on Thursday.
Thursday, October 21st 2010 - 11:14 UTC
Qatar sovereign wealth fund buys 5% of Banco Santander Brazil

Banco Santander SA, Spain’s biggest bank, said this week that it will sell 5% of its Brazilian unit to Qatar Holding LLC for 1.95 billion Euros (Approx. 2.7 billion US dollars).
Thursday, October 21st 2010 - 11:06 UTC
Chilean companies become aware of business impact on freshwater resources

Some companies in Chile have recently become involved in a movement to measure the impact of businesses on freshwater resources.
Thursday, October 21st 2010 - 10:57 UTC
In one of his last acts, Moratinos announces ease of tension with Gibraltar

In what could very well have been one of his last comments as Foreign Affairs minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos said Spain would be removing the scientific buoys that it laid in Gibraltar waters as from Wednesday October 20.
Thursday, October 21st 2010 - 08:37 UTC
Prime farmland in Argentina costs almost as much as in United States

Prices for the best farmland in Argentina’s breadbasket, the humid Pampa have risen on average 10% this year according to registered operations reports. This means the hectare of prime agriculture land in Argentina now costs almost the same as the average price of farmland in the state of Illinois, 14.000 US dollars.
Thursday, October 21st 2010 - 07:30 UTC
Lula da Silva promises to defend currency from further appreciation

Brazil’s Lula da Silva said that the G-20 group must address the issue of the “currencies war” in direct reference to the forced depreciation by some rich countries of their currencies which negatively affects the competitiveness of its trade partners, particularly in the developing world.
Thursday, October 21st 2010 - 07:26 UTC
Piñera seals in Paris wide-ranging “strategic alliance” with France

Chilean president Sebastian Piñera announced Wednesday in Paris a wide-ranging “strategic alliance” with France following a meeting with President Nicholas Sarkozy. Piñera arrived Tuesday from London and later in the week is scheduled to travel to Germany.
Thursday, October 21st 2010 - 07:19 UTC
With frozen income BBC has to fund World Service and Welsh language TV

The TV licence fee, which funds Britain’s BBC, is to be frozen for six years at £145.50, the Chancellor has confirmed. The BBC will also take over the cost of the Foreign Office-funded World Service, BBC Monitoring and some of the costs of Welsh language TV channel S4C.
Thursday, October 21st 2010 - 07:11 UTC
UK unveils biggest spending cuts in decades; half a million public jobs to go

Chancellor George Osborne has unveiled the biggest UK spending cuts for decades, with welfare, councils and police budgets all hit. The pension age will rise sooner than expected, some incapacity benefits will be time limited and other money clawed back through changes to tax credits and housing benefit.