Stories for 2012

Tuesday, February 28th 2012 - 04:18 UTC
President Correa, in lead case, pardons newspaper publishers and former columnist

Ecuador's populist president, Rafael Correa, on Monday pardoned three newspaper publishers and a former columnist who had been sentenced to jail and ordered to pay 40 million dollars damages in a libel case that angered media freedom advocates.
Tuesday, February 28th 2012 - 04:16 UTC
Switzerland asks banking system s to prevent un-taxed assets in their accounts

Switzerland has asked its banks to tighten due diligence process to prevent un-taxed assets in their accounts without violating client confidentiality. The measures come on the back of growing international pressure on Swiss authorities to act against any possible hoarding of illicit and untaxed money in Switzerland-based banks.
Tuesday, February 28th 2012 - 01:58 UTC
Mercosur/Gulf states closer to trade agreement but leaving petrochemicals for later

Brazil is eager to finalize a free trade agreement between the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) and the Mercosur bloc but believes the petrochemicals sector will be exempted until further study after the signing, said Brazilian Trade and Industry Minister Fernando Pimentel.
Tuesday, February 28th 2012 - 01:51 UTC
YPF feeling the noose from Argentina; Madrid doing its best to defend Spanish interest

Foreign Affairs minister Jose Manuel García-Margallo assured that the Spanish government “is doing what must be done” to defend the interests of Spanish companies in Argentina, but has avoided releasing details.
Tuesday, February 28th 2012 - 00:27 UTC
EC report on trade and investments criticizes Mercosur protectionism

The European Commission in its latest report on trade and investments complains about Mercosur protectionist policies, restrictions to maritime transport and to the export of commodities particularly from Brazil and Argentina.
Tuesday, February 28th 2012 - 00:23 UTC
Emerging economies decided to challenge US predominance in the World Bank

Emerging economies said on Sunday that they will challenge a tradition that has placed an American at the head of the World Bank for decades, as the President Obama administration shows sensitivity to the need for change at global institutions.
Monday, February 27th 2012 - 20:05 UTC
Spain refuses to share recovered undersea booty with former American colonies

Spain rejected Peru's claim to a huge multimillion-dollar undersea treasure recovered from the wreckage of a galleon that had left from Montevideo port more than 200 years ago loaded with precious metals originally from the Peruvian highlands.
Monday, February 27th 2012 - 19:56 UTC
Repsol-Sinopec makes huge oil discovery off-shore Brazil: 250m boe

Spain's Repsol and China's Sinopec have made an oil discovery offshore Brazil that could be one of the biggest so far in the area and that boosted confidence that across in Africa, Angola's deepwater reserves may be abundant too.
Monday, February 27th 2012 - 17:39 UTC
China at turning point: current model is unsustainable says the World Bank

The World Bank has warned China’s government that it must relax its grip on industry and move towards a free-market economy.
Monday, February 27th 2012 - 17:35 UTC
Gibraltar and La Linea address common issues that “concern the real people”

Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo received at Convent Palace neighbouring La Linea Mayor Gemma Araujo to review issues of mutual interest and concern, during a meeting followed by a press conference which was described as very positive.