International

• Saturday, December 29th 2012 - 15:34 UTC

  The spirit and roots of the Falklands in “Our Islands, Our History”

  

  The Falkland Islands Government announced the completion of the booklet “Our Islands, Our History”. The booklet provides a succinct and accessible summary of the key aspects of the history of the Falkland Islands, and of the people whose determination and character have forged them to a democratic, prosperous and dynamic community.

• Saturday, December 29th 2012 - 06:41 UTC

  Thatcher feared Spain might go for Gibraltar after Falklands was taken by Argentina

  

  Three days after Argentina’s ruling military junta seized the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic (April 1982), the Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher called for an “urgent assessment” of Britain’s ability to defend Gibraltar, prompted in part by the “jubilant reaction” to the invasion in the Spanish press.

• Saturday, December 29th 2012 - 06:30 UTC

  YPF signs shale gas exploration deals with Pan American Energy and Bridas

  

  Argentina’s nationalized oil and gas company YPF announced on Friday that Pan American Energy, PAE, would be investing 3.4bn dollars in gas production in the next five years while Bridas, belonging to the Bulgheroni brothers said it plans to invest 1.5bn dollars in the development of the non conventional shale deposits in Vaca Muerta.

• Saturday, December 29th 2012 - 06:26 UTC

  Spain lifts ban on Argentine bio-diesel; annual exports total 1.1bn dollars

  

  Spain has taken a step back with import restrictions on Argentina’s bio-diesel applied in a reprisal move after Argentine president Cristina Fernandez decided to seize control of energy company YPF, subsidiary of Spanish Repsol, earlier this year.

• Saturday, December 29th 2012 - 06:21 UTC

  Brazil names a candidate for the WTO Director General post

  

  Brazil on Friday named its World Trade Organization envoy Roberto Azevedo to succeed Pascal Lamy as head of the Geneva-based trade oversight body. Brazil's ambassador to the WTO since 2008, Azevedo has been tackling the country's cotton subsidy dispute with the United States.

• Friday, December 28th 2012 - 08:08 UTC

  Defaulted bonds: Argentina makes its case before the New York Appeals court

  

  Argentina will be making a presentation before the US Court of Appeals for the second circuit, in Manhattan on Friday regarding Federal Judge Thomas Griesa recent ruling that Argentine defaulted bondholders must be paid simultaneously with those who accepted the restructured bonds.

• Friday, December 28th 2012 - 05:03 UTC

  PM Thatcher “never, never expected” Argentina to invade the Falklands; “it was such a stupid thing to do”

  

  The 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina caught PM Margaret Thatcher by surprise, newly released government papers have shown. The then-prime minister only saw it was likely after getting “raw intelligence” two days before the Argentines landed.

• Thursday, December 27th 2012 - 05:49 UTC

  China’s Industrial and Commercial bank, authorized to open a branch in Brazil

  

  The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd, the world's largest lender by market value, got the green light from Brazilian regulators to operate a subsidiary in the Latin America's largest economy, the lender said on Wednesday. Brazil's central bank approved the license on Dec 19.

• Thursday, December 27th 2012 - 05:39 UTC

  Timerman meets with Jewish community to report on talks with Iran

  

  Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman met with the relatives of victims of the Buenos Aires 1994 AMIA Jewish center bombing to update them on negotiations with Iran. The update came three months after Timerman's first public meeting with his Iranian counterpart.

• Wednesday, December 26th 2012 - 06:53 UTC

  Falklands’ share Norway’s oil wealth fund and port infrastructure experience

  

  Though plagued with flu and taking place largely in darkness, the recent visit to Norway by Members of the Legislative Assembly and senior government officials appears to have produced encouraging results and shone some light on possible developments in the Falkland Islands, according to MLA Dick Sawle.