Stories for September 20th 2013

Friday, September 20th 2013 - 19:38 UTC
Looking back on time: when Garcia Margallo championed for Melilla and Ceuta as tax havens

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel García-Margallo has long been a vocal critic of Gibraltar’s competitive tax framework, denouncing the Rock as “a tax haven” despite its recognised compliance with international standards set by the EU and the OECD, among others.
Friday, September 20th 2013 - 08:35 UTC
Lack of ‘tuning’ and a new historic reality, obstacles for EU/Mercosur trade talks

The lack of ‘tuning’ in trade affairs is not the only motive stalling the decade long Mercosur/European Union trade and cooperation discussions according to EU ambassador in Montevideo, Juan Fernandez Trigo who also included what he described as the ‘new historic reality’.
Friday, September 20th 2013 - 08:31 UTC
Argentina and Brazil address Mercosur and trade discussion with Europe

Argentina’s Hector Timerman and Brazil’s new Foreign minister Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado discussed a long agenda of common interest issues during a work meeting held in Buenos Aires, which included Mercosur, trade discussions with Europe, Unasur, Haiti and US cyber-spying in the region among other issues.
Friday, September 20th 2013 - 08:24 UTC
US corn exporters concerned with Mercosur competition in Venezuela

United States corn exporters are concerned with the fact that Venezuela, one of their prime markets, is now a full member of Mercosur, which includes Brazil and Argentina two major exporting countries.
Friday, September 20th 2013 - 08:10 UTC
Falklands and oil company discuss temporary port for exploration needs

Noble Energy Falkland Islands Ltd continue to negotiate with the Falkland Islands Government on the construction of a temporary port to the east of FIPASS prior to progressing the application for planning permission, the company’s representative in the Falkland Islands told Penguin News this week.
Friday, September 20th 2013 - 08:02 UTC
Brazil prepared to lower Mercosur tariffs at January’s review panel

Brazil's government is considering lowering import duties in the next planned review of regional bloc Mercosur tariffs, which is scheduled to take place in January, Trade Minister Fernando Pimentel announced this week.
Friday, September 20th 2013 - 07:58 UTC
IMF sides with Obama calls on Republicans to bury political differences

The International Monetary Fund urged US policymakers to support major reforms at the global lender and bury political differences over the budget to ease one source of risk to the economy and markets.
Friday, September 20th 2013 - 07:52 UTC
Francis calls for a more welcoming church with priests acting as pastors and not dogmatic bureaucrats

Pope Francis said the Catholic Church should not allow its bans on gay marriage, abortion and contraception to dominate its teachings, but must be a more welcoming Church where priests are understanding-pastors and not cold, dogmatic bureaucrats.
Friday, September 20th 2013 - 07:44 UTC
Argentina nationalizes inter-urban train services to Cordoba and Tucumán

The government of President Cristina Fernandez has given another step towards the state control of the Argentine railway system, following the nationalization of three other lines which connect the City of Buenos Aires to the provinces of Tucumán and Córdoba, passing through Santa Fe and Santiago del Estero provinces.
Friday, September 20th 2013 - 07:42 UTC
Over half of Uruguayans (55%) have ‘little’ or ‘no’ interest in politics says poll

A majority of Uruguayans have little or no interest in politics according and most of them are young people, poorly educated and those who consider themselves as ‘centre or centre right’, according to the results of a public opinion poll released on Thursday.