Stories for April 2012

Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 00:58 UTC
Chavez blasts “psychological rumours warfare” and says on Thursday he returns to Venezuela

A healthy-sounding President Hugo Chávez called Venezuelan state television from Cuba on Monday to dispel rumours fanned by a nine-day silence that he had died undergoing cancer treatment at a hospital in Havana.
Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 00:52 UTC
Spain back in recession and already high unemployment expected to increase

Spain's jobs-scarce economy plunged back into recession in the first quarter of 2012 as employment slumped even further, the Bank of Spain said on Monday. Barely two years after emerging from the last downturn Spain slid into recession again with two consecutive quarters of economic contraction the central bank said in a report.
Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 00:48 UTC
Extreme right-wing National Front kingmaker of next French president

French President Nicolas Sarkozy appealed directly to far right voters on Monday with pledges to get tough on immigration and security, after a record showing in a first round election by the National Front made them potential kingmakers.
Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:40 UTC
IMF governing panel calls for more action from Euro zone to prevent recession

Europe was pressed by other world powers to take strong measures to fix its debt-heavy economy and restore growth to a level that would lift the cloud hanging over the fragile global recovery.
Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:37 UTC
Gas condensate discovered in Falklands South basin in first well drilled by B&SP

Borders & Southern Petroleum Plc energy explorer operating in the Falkland Islands announced on Monday the discovery of gas condensate in the first well drilled to a depth of 4.867 meters.
Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:34 UTC
Parlatino supports Argentine decision, blasts EU for threatening with reprisals

The Standing Committee from the Latin American parliament, Parlatino, approved a resolution in support of the Argentine government decision to seize a majority stake in YPF from Spain’s Repsol, according to a release made public over the weekend.
Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:33 UTC
YPF seizure approved by 62% of Argentines, according to opinion poll

The recent decision by President Cristina Fernandez to seize a majority stake in YPF from Spain’s Repsol has the approval of 62% of Argentines, while 23% disagree according to a public opinion poll from Poliarquía published in the Sunday edition of La Nacion.
Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:28 UTC
Washington Post suggests replacing Argentina with Chile at the G20

As has happened with other leading world opinion makers such as the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal, that have condemned the seizure by the administration of President Cristina Fernandez of a majority share in the Spanish Repsol owned YPF, The Washington Post has also been extremely critical of the Argentine leader.
Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:21 UTC
Brazil helped Soviet support operation for Argentina during the Falklands conflict

Brazil collaborated during the 1982 Falkland Islands conflict in an operation mounted by the Soviets to supply Argentina with spares, arms, munitions and other requirements according to the Rio do Janeiro newspaper O’Globo based on disclosed documents from the National Security Council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Monday, April 23rd 2012 - 09:16 UTC
Hollande wins first round in France and leads comfortably for the run-off

French President Nicolas Sarkozy faces an uphill struggle in the second round of the presidential election, after coming second in Sunday's first vote. He won only 27.1% of the vote, while his socialist rival Francois Hollande took 28.6%, the first time a sitting president has lost in first round. Third-place Marine Le Pen took the largest share of the vote her far-right National Front has ever won with 18.1%.