Stories for September 2012

Saturday, September 8th 2012 - 06:07 UTC
Red tape, bureaucracy and ideology limiting foreign investment in Cuba

Cuba's failure to encourage more foreign investment is crippling its economic performance and putting its goal of sustainable growth in danger unless changes are made, local experts and diplomats said this week.
Saturday, September 8th 2012 - 05:26 UTC
Bolivia will formally request Mercosur full membership in 2013

Bolivia will begin the coming year formal talks for full membership of Mercosur, for which it has the support from Uruguay, said diplomatic sources from both countries, Bolivian Deputy Foreign minister Juan Carlos Alurralde met with his Uruguayan counterpart Roberto Conde in the framework of the “Bolivia-Uruguay coordination and consultation mechanism” sixth meeting in La Paz.
Saturday, September 8th 2012 - 05:20 UTC
Argentina limits dollar trading for arriving tourists in ports and airports

The Argentine government is further tightening the US dollar clamp. On Thursday the Central bank announced that state-run banks and agencies will be the only ones officially allowed to operate foreign currency exchange offices in airports and ports.
Saturday, September 8th 2012 - 05:00 UTC
Falklands’ 1986 referendum showed 94.5% favoured British sovereignty

In the light of the referendum on the political future of the Falkland Islands scheduled for March 2013, Islander Eric Goss this week provided Penguin News with historical information relating to a Sovereignty Survey conducted in 1986 that revealed a 94.5% cent vote by Islanders in favour of British sovereignty.
Saturday, September 8th 2012 - 04:54 UTC
Prince Harry back in Afghanistan but this time to fly attack helicopters

Britain's Prince Harry has returned to Afghanistan to fly attack helicopters on the frontline just two weeks after he was photographed frolicking naked in Las Vegas. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said he would serve a four-month tour, based out of Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, one of the most volatile regions in the country.
Friday, September 7th 2012 - 06:33 UTC
Rousseff announces major shake-up of Brazilian costs beginning with lower power rates

Brazil will cut energy costs for companies and consumers while pressuring banks to lower lending rates to accelerate growth, said President Dilma Rousseff in a speech on national television to commemorate the country’s independence.
Friday, September 7th 2012 - 06:25 UTC
FAO says global food prices remained steady in August, but “the game is not over”

Global food prices remained steady in August, the United Nations food agency said Thursday, but warned that “the game is not over” as it was only the beginning of the harvest season.
Friday, September 7th 2012 - 06:19 UTC
“You only have to fear God: and me a little bit”, Cristina Fernandez scolds ministers

“You only have to fear God, and me a little bit, at least while you are staff that depends from me”, said Argentine President Cristina Fernández publicly voicing her discontent towards some of her cabinet members after a court order interrupted a series of public works in the Buenos Aires province.
Friday, September 7th 2012 - 06:09 UTC
Santos rejects FARC proposal for cease fire during talks to end the conflict

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos rejected a proposal on Thursday by FARC rebels for a bilateral ceasefire during talks next month aimed at bringing an end to half a century of war.
Friday, September 7th 2012 - 06:04 UTC
IMF showed strong support for ECB new framework in support of the Euro

Managing Director Christine Lagarde of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) showed strong support of the European Central Bank's new framework for intervention in the Euro zone debt crisis, deeming Thursday’s action 'an important step toward strengthening stability and growth.'