Stories for January 2012

Saturday, January 28th 2012 - 09:44 UTC
US economy expands 2.8% in fourth quarter but with too much inventory building

The US economy grew at its fastest pace in one and a half years in the fourth quarter of 2011, but a strong rebuilding of stocks by businesses and a slower pace of spending on capital goods hinted at softer growth early this year.
Saturday, January 28th 2012 - 09:35 UTC
Costa Concordia company offers 11.000 Euros compensation for each passenger

Several of Italy's consumer groups signed an agreement with Costa Cruises to offer about 11,000 Euros to each of the more than 3,000 passengers aboard the Costa Concordia when it hit a rock and capsized near the Italian island of Giglio on January 13, a statement from the consumer groups said.
Saturday, January 28th 2012 - 07:26 UTC
Maximo Kirchner, the ‘favourite son’ with ever growing influence in her mother’s administration

The French newspaper Le Monde dedicated last week ample coverage to the son of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, Maximo Kirchner, 34, who has a growing influence in her mother’s administration given his double condition as ‘favourite son’ and leader of a youth group La Campora which he founded and is moving full steam ahead.
Saturday, January 28th 2012 - 07:13 UTC
Drought in Argentina and Brazil cuts significantly corn crops’ volumes

Corn advanced heading for the biggest weekly gain in five as concerns that a renewed heat wave in Argentina and south Brazil may damage crops boosted demand for US grain. Soybeans were little changed.
Saturday, January 28th 2012 - 07:09 UTC
UK praises naming of Argentine ambassador to London, calls for “strengthened cooperation”

The British government acknowledged on Friday the naming of the new Argentine ambassador to the United Kingdom, and stated that they hoped the coverage of the long-vacant position will permit “the strengthening of cooperation” between the two countries.
Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:44 UTC
US was aware of Argentine military “systematic plan to steal babies born in captivity”

The administration of US President Ronald Reagan was aware of the “planned” stealing of babies born in captivity from jailed political prisoners, during the Argentine military dictatorship (1976/1983), since there was a “clear decision” to hand them to families considered faithful and reliable to the regime, said a former top US official.
Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:39 UTC
Rousseff signals clear difference with Lula da Silva in coming visit to Cuba

Brazil issued a tourist visa to a dissident Cuban blogger a few days before President Dilma Rousseff is scheduled to travel to the Castro family island in a visit being dominated by human rights concerns.
Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:25 UTC
Petrobras admits oil leak off the coast of southern Brazil

Transpetro, a subsidiary of Brazil's state-run energy giant Petrobras, said Thursday it had detected an oil leak off the coast of Rio Grande do Sul state but did not know how much had spilled.
Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:18 UTC
Foreign Office has not discussed Gibraltar with new Spanish government

Foreign Office Ministers have not discussed Gibraltar with the new Spanish Government, a Foreign Office spokesman said on Wednesday.
Friday, January 27th 2012 - 11:12 UTC
Scottish independence debate rattles across Europe fearing breakaway movements

British diplomats are working behind the scenes to dampen down concern in Europe that Scotland's independence debate could trigger breakaway movements across the continent, reports the Herald Scotland.