Stories for December 2012

Tuesday, December 11th 2012 - 05:56 UTC
Maduro prays and pledges loyalty ‘beyond life’ on replacing Chavez

Venezuelan Vice president Nicolas Maduro prayed on Monday for the quick recovery of leader Hugo Chavez and pledged loyalty “beyond life” in his first action as head of the Executive.
Tuesday, December 11th 2012 - 05:52 UTC
Brazilians take to the streets to protest corruption and support Judges

Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets on Sunday to demand a tough stance against corruption and celebrate the recent sentencing of influential politicians who were involved in money scandals during the first government of President Lula da Silva.
Tuesday, December 11th 2012 - 05:50 UTC
Paraguay: UN demands clarification of peasants’ killings that triggered political crisis

The United Nations resident coordinator called on the Paraguayan government to investigate and clarify the killings of Curuguaty last June, which triggered the removal of then President Fernando Lugo and his replacement by Federico Franco.
Monday, December 10th 2012 - 23:02 UTC
Jewish community protests for being kept on the dark on Argentina/Iran negotiations

The head of the Argentine-Jewish Community Centre (AMIA), Guillermo Borger, warned the government of President Cristina Fernandez that the organization’s members are concerned by the lack of information regarding ongoing negotiations with Iran over the 1994 terrorist attack on the AMIA headquarters, which killed 85 people.
Monday, December 10th 2012 - 20:10 UTC
YPF CEO Galuccio travels to Norway to discuss partnership with Statoil

Argentina’ nationalized oil and gas corporation YPF is said to be in talks with Norway’s Statoil about a possible partnership as part of its 37 billion dollars drive to develop Argentina’s energy reserves. It is close to signing deals with US oil giant Chevron as well as Bridas Corp, the Chinese-Argentine joint venture, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
Monday, December 10th 2012 - 20:05 UTC
Brazil plans to invest 26bn dollars in four years to modernize ports

Brazil's government has unveiled plans to invest 54.2 billion Reais (approx 26 billion dollars) over the next four years to modernize the country's ports, whose high costs and notorious delays are eroding the country’s competitive edge.
Monday, December 10th 2012 - 19:55 UTC
Brazil leaning for the US F-18 Super Hornet fighter bomber, says Sao Paulo media

The Brazilian air force, awaiting the outcome of the selection process for purchasing 36 fighter jets, is leaning toward the F-18 Super Hornet of the US, which is competing against the French Dassault Rafale and the Swedish Gripen, Istoe magazine said.
Monday, December 10th 2012 - 19:46 UTC
BOT Turks and Caicos Islands former premier on the run since 2009 arrested in Brazil

The former jet-setting premier of the British Overseas Territory Turks and Caicos Islands has been arrested in Brazil after disappearing a few years ago. Michael Misick was detained last Friday at the Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro, governor spokesman Neil Smith said.
Monday, December 10th 2012 - 19:38 UTC
Standard Chartered will pay 327m dollars for violating US sanctions on Iran

Standard Chartered will pay more than 300 million dollars to settle charges it violated US sanctions on Iran, Burma, Libya and Sudan. The UK-based bank has been fined 100m by the Federal Reserve and the Department of Justice seized assets worth 227m, the regulators said.
Monday, December 10th 2012 - 18:56 UTC
UK launches campaign for re-election to UN Human Rights Council

Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi launched on Monday 10 December, UN Human Rights Day, UK’s campaign for re-election to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for January 2014-December 2016.