Stories for November 2012

Wednesday, November 28th 2012 - 18:55 UTC
BP suspended from new contracts with US government

British Petroleum has been temporarily suspended from new contracts with the US government, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said. While it is unclear how long the ban will last, it follows BP's record fine earlier this month over the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Wednesday, November 28th 2012 - 16:42 UTC
EC 37bn Euro check for Spanish banks but 50% of branches must go and hair cut for bond holders

The European Commission gave on Wednesday the go ahead for Spain to overhaul its stricken nationalized banks and opened the door for nearly 40 billion Euros in Euro zone aid to be disbursed, offering hope for an end to Spain's banking crisis.
Wednesday, November 28th 2012 - 16:23 UTC
The clandestine repressive “Condor Plan” was masterminded by the Brazilian military

The head of Brazil’s Justice and Human Rights Movement, Jair Krischke stated before the Truth Committee that it was the Brazilian dictatorship which master minded the notorious Plan Condor, the South American military dictatorships undercover trans-border organization of the sixties and seventies.
Wednesday, November 28th 2012 - 16:08 UTC
MP questions lack of “Territory Status” for BOTs in Commonwealth future report

Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell has written to the London representatives of British Overseas Territories to alert them to what he sees as a shortfall in a new report on the future of the Commonwealth.
Wednesday, November 28th 2012 - 16:03 UTC
Brazil contrary to lifting suspension of Paraguay from Unasur until April

Brazilian Executive special advisor on International Affairs, Marco Aurelio Garcia anticipated that at the coming summit in Lima, the Union of South American Nations, Unasur, would not lift the suspension on Paraguay which will hold until April’s election.
Wednesday, November 28th 2012 - 05:37 UTC
Fitch downgrades Argentina’s credit rating fearing ‘probable default’

Fitch Ratings agency announced on Tuesday it has downgraded Argentina's long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating from “B” to “CC,” with a negative outlook, as it sees a “probable default” if the country misses its payment to holdout investors.
Wednesday, November 28th 2012 - 00:07 UTC
In the midst of regional elections Chavez returns to Cuba to continue cancer treatment

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he is returning to Cuba on Tuesday to continue treatment for cancer, raising new questions about his health just weeks after he won re-election to another six-year term.
Tuesday, November 27th 2012 - 23:52 UTC
Peruvian president tells Argentine congress of its solidarity with the Malvinas issue

Peruvian president Ollanta Humala expressed solidarity with Argentina in the Malvinas Islands issue and said that “the problems of the region are common problems” for all countries.
Tuesday, November 27th 2012 - 22:54 UTC
Argentina will make a plea at the Unasur summit to jointly face ‘vulture funds’

During a ceremony to receive visiting Peruvian leader Ollanta Humala Argentine President Cristina Fernández said that she would make a plea for Unasur members to come together in the fight against ‘vulture funds’ (hedge funds) when the region’s leaders meet this week in Lima.
Tuesday, November 27th 2012 - 22:25 UTC
FIFA warns Brazil on Sao Paulo crime and insufficient infrastructure for 2014 Cup

FIFA general secretary, Jerome Valcke has warned Brazil of the increasing crime rate in cities like Sao Paulo and also stressed on the need of more infrastructure ahead of the 2014 football World Cup.