Stories for January 2012

Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 16:32 UTC
Spain’s central banks says economy forecasted to shrink 1.5% in 2012

Spain’s economy contracted in the fourth quarter and will shrink 1.5% this year, the Bank of Spain estimated, undermining government efforts to cut the budget deficit amid the second recession in two years.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 16:28 UTC
China admits “big distribution challenges” in the Year of the Dragon

China will face “bigger challenges” in the Year of the Dragon its Prime Minister Wen Jiabao warned Saturday, as he pledged economic reforms to improve wealth distribution, state media reported.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 15:23 UTC
Costa Concordia captain claims he was ordered to make the fatal ‘salute’ display

The operators of the Costa Concordia faced questions over their share of the blame for the shipwreck, as divers recovered another body from the stricken liner, bringing the known death toll to 13.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 15:15 UTC
New Spanish minister proposes Gibraltar ‘quadripartite’ talks on cooperation

Spanish Foreign Affairs minister Jose Garcia-Margallo is seeking to revisit talks on co-operation with the disputed Gibraltar UK Overseas Territory on a new variation of the formulas for talks: a quadripartite forum.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 15:13 UTC
Mass pilot whale stranding in New Zealand; desperate efforts to save remaining 77

New Zealand officials say at least 22 pilot whales have died after being beached on the country's South Island.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 15:10 UTC
Dutch school girl mariner completes youngest round the world solo

Dutch schoolgirl sailor Laura Dekker, who has fulfilled her dream to become the youngest round-the-world sailor, arrived late on Saturday on the Dutch Antillean Island of St Maarten in the Caribbean, a year and a day after starting her epic voyage and breaking all the records she set out to surpass.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 15:03 UTC
British explorer becomes first woman to cross the Antarctic continent

British explorer Felicity Aston has reached Antarctica's Hercules Inlet, becoming the first woman to cross the continent alone. “Congratulations to the 1st female to traverse Antarctica SOLO.V proud,” her UK support team tweeted late on Sunday.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 15:00 UTC
Cairn Energy sells 30% of stake in Greenland licence to Norway’s Statoil

British Oil explorer Cairn Energy has sold off a 30% stake in one of its Greenland exploration licences to Norwegian group Statoil. It is part of Cairn's plan to bring in a partner in to share the costs of exploration in the Arctic.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 04:32 UTC
Uruguay’s government and private sector disagree on number of tourists arrived

The number of tourists arriving in Uruguay this summer season has erupted into an open controversy between the government and tourism operators who question the official stats release of the first fifteen days of January.
Monday, January 23rd 2012 - 04:30 UTC
A woman of gritty character will head Brazil’s largest corporation, Petrobras

Maria da Gracas Foster, (58), will be head of Brazil’s largest corporation, Petrobras as of next February. This is the first time that the Brazilian oil corporation among the largest in the world will have a woman as CEO.