Stories for September 2012

Tuesday, September 4th 2012 - 05:53 UTC
Colombia’s FARC pledge to join peace talks “without hatred or arrogance”

Colombia's FARC rebel leader said the group would join peace talks with the government “without hatred or arrogance” in its first response to President Juan Manuel Santos' announcement of imminent negotiations.
Tuesday, September 4th 2012 - 01:44 UTC
Falklands’ referendum a “parody”: like asking the Argentines “if they want to remain Argentine”

Argentine Defence minister Arturo Puricelli strongly criticized the announced referendum the Falkland Islands government is scheduled to hold next March which he described as a ‘parody’ and “entirely lacking imagination and creativity”.
Tuesday, September 4th 2012 - 01:31 UTC
Mingling with ordinary people from a distance can have its problems for Cristina Fernandez

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez has taken a taste for video conferences and likes, with electronic distance, to mingle with ordinary people while opening major work. However things can also go wrong or don’t work out as planned.
Tuesday, September 4th 2012 - 01:25 UTC
Germany stands firm: ECB is not prepared to supervise all Euro zone banks

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble rejected on Monday a European Commission plan to give the European Central Bank sweeping powers to monitor all Euro zone banks, saying it should instead focus only on systemically important institutions.
Tuesday, September 4th 2012 - 01:17 UTC
Since 2003 an estimated 261bn dollars have fled from Greece, says NGO

Greek nationals have deposited overseas an estimate 261 billion dollars from illegal activities, from tax evasion and elusion to criminal actions or simple from rampant corruption, according to economist and head of the Non Government Organization, Global Financial Integrity, Raymond Baker.
Tuesday, September 4th 2012 - 00:31 UTC
Poll shows Germans want Greece out of the Euro; doubts about reforms’ implementation

Only about a quarter of ordinary Germans are in favor of debt-stricken Greece remaining in the Euro area, a poll published by the Financial Times on Monday indicated. It revealed strong reluctance to grant Greece yet another bailout installment.
Tuesday, September 4th 2012 - 00:25 UTC
Nearly 11.500 humpback whales counted off the coast of Brazil

Whales are returning to the coast of Brazil. Last year, nearly 11,500 humpback whales were counted off the coast of Brazil - a new record, the Baleia Jubarte Institute cheered on Sunday in a report.
Tuesday, September 4th 2012 - 00:20 UTC
Growing fears China is slowing down faster than estimated

China's manufacturing activity fell to a nine-month low in August, adding to fears that its economy is slowing faster than estimated. The official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell to 49.2, the lowest reading since November 2011, data released over the weekend showed.
Tuesday, September 4th 2012 - 00:12 UTC
Colombia confirms economic policy as it prepares for peace process

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos named close ally Federico Renjifo as energy and mining minister in part of a Cabinet shuffle as the leader begins pursuing a peace process with FARC rebels.
Monday, September 3rd 2012 - 23:56 UTC
Venezuelan presidential candidate admits his “weakness” are women

Venezuelan opposition presidential candidate Henrique Carriles admitted that his “weakness” are the ladies and said he was convinced that they would ensure his victory next 7 October when he faces Hugo Chávez at the polls.