Stories for 2012

Friday, July 27th 2012 - 05:17 UTC
Cuba to end Soviet-style economy and will implement market friendly policies

Cuba adopted a new tax code this week and said it would loosen regulations on some state companies while turning others into cooperatives, as one of the world's last Soviet-style economies moves in a more market-friendly direction.
Friday, July 27th 2012 - 05:10 UTC
Argentine union leader confesses he never believed in the “official inflation rate”

Argentina’s Metal workers union (UOM) leader Antonio Caló said on Thursday he “never believed in the (official stats office) Indec” and openly estimated that inflation in the country is running at “23% to 24%”.
Friday, July 27th 2012 - 02:52 UTC
IMF Western Hemisphere director Eyzaguirre resigns; takes CEO job in Chilean television channel

IMF western hemisphere director, Chilean national Nicolás Eyzaguirre, resigned to his post Thursday in order to become the CEO of Chilean Canal 13 network. The International Monetary Fund confirmed the news and added that the official will leave his responsibilities immediately.
Friday, July 27th 2012 - 02:44 UTC
Ex British swimmer will carry the Paraguayan flag in London’s Olympic opening

Benjamin Hockin in the 2008 Beijing Olympics was part of the British team, now however he will be the standard-bearer for Paraguay in Friday’s London summer games opening and convinced he will receive an even greater support.
Friday, July 27th 2012 - 02:32 UTC
US candidate Romney apologized to PM Cameron for London Games comments

US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's high-profile overseas trip got off to a rocky start on Thursday when he was forced to clarify a comment seen as criticizing London's handling of the Summer Olympics that he came to celebrate.
Thursday, July 26th 2012 - 21:24 UTC
Repsol net profit down in second quarter; plans sale of assets to boost production

Spain’s Repsol SA said on Thursday its second-quarter net profit (excluding the recently-nationalized Argentine unit YPF) declined 45% on the year, as higher production in Libya and elsewhere couldn't offset the effect of declining oil and gas prices on the value of inventories.
Thursday, July 26th 2012 - 21:17 UTC
UN criticizes as “devastating” Venezuela’s decision to pull out from human rights court

United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Thursday that Venezuela's pullout of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR Court) would be “devastating” for the international organization. Spokesperson Rupert Colville said the move “will be not good for Venezuela either.”
Thursday, July 26th 2012 - 20:35 UTC
Mujica warns Uruguay is going through an exceptional period, but it is also finite

President Jose Mujica said Uruguay was going through an ‘exceptional’ period vis-à-vis the world crisis but also warned that exceptionality has limits and is not forever.
Thursday, July 26th 2012 - 20:28 UTC
Uruguay central bank suggests “serene alert” attitude to address global crisis impact

Uruguay must adopt an attitude of “serene alert” given the “uncertainty and uncommon volatility” prevailing in the world said central bank president Mario Bergara, underlining the country has reduced “vulnerabilities” considerably.
Thursday, July 26th 2012 - 20:21 UTC
Russia will sacrifice 33.000 hogs because of African swine fever outbreak

Russian veterinary services have ordered the termination of 33.000 hogs following an outbreak of Africa swine pest, in the region of Tyer, in the neighbouring province of the capital Moscow.