International

Monday, May 6th 2013 - 00:54 UTC
Mujica wants to meet Pope Francis: social programs, housing and abortion in the agenda

Uruguay has formally requested Pope Francis to receive President Jose Mujica when he travels at the end of the month to China, Spain and Italy. Mujica is an agnostic and Uruguay is one of the few Latinamerican countries in which the Catholic Church has been separated from the State for almost a century.
Saturday, May 4th 2013 - 09:12 UTC
Van Rompuy joins chorus of Euro zone policy makers promoting pro-growth measures

European Union governments and institutions must take “immediate action” to promote growth and jobs creation as countries are tired of austerity, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said this week.
Saturday, May 4th 2013 - 09:03 UTC
UK minister warns waters row escalation with Spain could damage Gibraltar’s economy

UK Minister for Europe David Lidington has warned that an escalation of tension with Spain in the waters row could damage Gibraltar’s prosperity and wider UK interests and pointed out that the incursions were not “an armed attack or invasion” and that the response to them must be proportionate.
Saturday, May 4th 2013 - 08:54 UTC
“Pepe” Grillo protest-vote syndrome emerges in UK local elections and rattles three main parties

Italy’s ‘Pepe’ Grillo protest syndrome emerged in British local elections. The anti-European Union UK Independence Party made sweeping gains in these elections, siphoning support from British Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives in a vote that exposed a threat to his re-election chances in 2015.
Friday, May 3rd 2013 - 05:48 UTC
Falklands: Cristina Fernandez leads ceremony to honour 323 crewmembers from torpedoed ‘General Belgrano’

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez honoured the memory of the 323 crew members from the cruiser “General Belgrano” who lost their lives during the Malvinas war, “today, 31 years ago” and described the British torpedo attack on the vessel as “a criminal and coward action”.
Friday, May 3rd 2013 - 03:00 UTC
Ban Ki-moon on World Press Freedom Day: “When it is safe to speak, the whole world benefits.”

United Nations officials issued a call to action to ensure the safety of journalists in every country, echoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who declared; “When it is safe to speak, the whole world benefits”.
Friday, May 3rd 2013 - 02:41 UTC
Freedom of the press in the America exposed to violence and intimidation from governments

Violence, intimidation and polarization still obstruct reporting in Americas says the 2013 Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index which was released in anticipation of the World Press Freedom Day, May 3 (*). The report states that the ranking of most countries is no longer attributable to dramatic political developments and this year’s index is a better reflection of the attitudes and intentions of governments towards media freedom in the medium or long term.
Friday, May 3rd 2013 - 02:27 UTC
Bank of Canada names long term bureaucrat and economist as new head

The Bank of Canada has named long-term bureaucrat and economist Stephen Poloz as its new head, replacing Mark Carney who is going to run the Bank of England. Mr Poloz was a surprise choice as many observers expected Mr Carney's senior deputy, Tiff Macklem, to succeed him.
Friday, May 3rd 2013 - 02:24 UTC
EU “nightmare of unemployment” debate reaches ECB, which cuts rates to record low 0.5%

The European Central Bank cut interest rates to a new record low on Thursday amid a chorus of calls for the Euro zone to focus on growth to end a “nightmare of unemployment” in the bloc. It was the first cut in ten months.
Thursday, May 2nd 2013 - 07:56 UTC
British tax havens will have to open their banking systems to UK and EU scrutiny

Tax havens such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands will work more closely with Britain and other European countries to fight tax evasion, British finance minister George Osborne said.