Stories for February 3rd 2012

Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 23:19 UTC
IMF calls on emerging countries to contribute to increase its war-chest

International Monetary Fund should proceed with talks on increasing the size of its war-chest at the same time as Europe discusses how to build a firewall to contain its debt crisis, a senior official from the fund said on Friday.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 23:13 UTC
ALBA summit takes off celebrating a frustrated 1992 military coup by Chavez

Cuban president Raul Castro arrived on Friday to Caracas for the XI summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of America, ALBA, and to participate in the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the frustrated military coup by then a young Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chavez, currently Venezuelan president.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 23:11 UTC
Bolivian government promises neighbouring countries to return thousands of stolen cars

The Bolivian government promised to call the ambassadors from neighbouring countries to define a legal framework that allows the devolution of thousands of cars stolen in their countries and which found their way to the landlocked country.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 23:08 UTC
Cuba’s pro-democracy blogger denied permission to travel to Brazil

Cuba’s best-known pro-democracy blogger said she was denied permission to leave her country after Brazil granted her a visa ahead of President Dilma Rousseff’s state visit to the Castro brothers’ island last week.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 23:04 UTC
Brazil follows Argentina: sets up a special unit to monitor and control imports

Following on Argentina’s track the Brazilian government created a special unit to monitor and control imports in the framework of the country’s new trade policy implemented by the administration of President Dilma Rousseff.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 19:04 UTC
Spain committed to best UK relations but asks for Gibraltar sovereignty talks

Spain has formally asked Britain to reopen talks over the sovereignty of Gibraltar. The petition was made by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Garcia-Margallo shortly after UK Europe Minister David Lidington told an audience in Madrid that Britain would not discuss sovereignty against Gibraltar’s wishes.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 19:00 UTC
China has neither the ability or the intention to ‘buy Europe’ says Wen Jibao

China's Premier Wen Jiabao said on Friday the Asian giant had neither the ability nor the intention to “buy Europe”, amid concerns over growing Chinese investment in debt-stricken Euro zone economies.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 18:40 UTC
Cruise bookings down, but industry will recover, say main operators

The downturn in cruise bookings by North American and European customers noted earlier this week by industry giant Carnival Corp. is taking place at rival Royal Caribbean Cruises, too, but overall the industry is optimistic.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 18:33 UTC
US economy creating jobs at fastest pace in months: unemployment drops to 8.3%

The US economy created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months in January and the unemployment rate dropped to a near three-year low of 8.3%, indicating last quarter's growth carried into early 2012.
Friday, February 3rd 2012 - 18:31 UTC
Bernanke warns US government debt relative to GDP is “clearly unsustainable”

The growth of US government debt relative to GDP is “clearly unsustainable”, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said in a congressional testimony.