International

Monday, January 28th 2013 - 04:49 UTC
Spanish secessionism makes first move: Catalonia is “a sovereign political and legal entity”

Catalonia regional parliament has approved a declaration proclaiming the Catalan people a “sovereign political and legal entity”. The motion also calls for a referendum to be held to allow Catalans their say on independence.
Monday, January 28th 2013 - 04:22 UTC
US Republican congressman visits the Falklands starting Monday

United States Republican Congressman Thomas Petri will visit the Falkland Islands from Monday 28 January 28 to February 2 accompanied by a group of congressional staff members.
Saturday, January 26th 2013 - 21:31 UTC
IMF: Latam growth estimates contained because of Brazil’s poor performance

The IMF downgraded growth estimates for Latinamerica in 2013 from 3.9% to 3.6%, mainly because of an anticipated poor showing of the region’s largest economy Brazil, according to the Fund’s latest report on the world economy prospects.
Saturday, January 26th 2013 - 21:23 UTC
Lagarde surprised at the ‘very slow’ recovery of the Brazilian economy

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said she is unsure about Brazil’s economic outlook despite the country’s official estimate of 3.5% growth this year, since recovery is “very slow” as the 1% of 2012 showed.
Saturday, January 26th 2013 - 20:59 UTC
Major summit in Santiago with inverted roles: EU knocks on the door of Latam

Representatives from sixty countries begin Saturday in Santiago de Chile the two day summit which breaks with recent tradition: Latin American countries, full of economic confidence, are hosting their European partners and are expected to volunteer to help with Europe’s economic problems.
Saturday, January 26th 2013 - 19:01 UTC
EU27/CELAC trade experienced sharp decline in 2009 with strong recovery since

The European Union27 international trade in goods with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, (CELAC), has been characterised in recent years by steady growth between 2003 and 2008, a sharp decline in 2009 and a strong recovery since then.
Saturday, January 26th 2013 - 06:52 UTC
US NOAA identifies 10 countries that conducted IUU fishing in 2011-12

As part of its overall efforts to ensure that the US fishing industry isn’t undermined by unsustainable or illegal activities, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has submitted a Congressionally mandated report identifying ten nations whose fishing vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2011 or 2012, or had ineffective measures to prevent the unintended catch of protected species in 2012.
Saturday, January 26th 2013 - 04:26 UTC
Spain’s jobless soars to 26%; 1.8 million households with no member employed

Spain’s unemployment rate shot up to a record 26% in the fourth quarter of 2012, leaving almost six million people out of work, the National Statistics Institute said on Friday. The rate rose from 25% in the third quarter as the country’s recession deepened.
Saturday, January 26th 2013 - 04:10 UTC
Chancellor Osborne will ‘not run away’ from UK economic woes despite triple-dip recession signals

Chancellor George Osborne has vowed not to “run away” from Britain's economic woes amid fresh signs the UK is heading for an unprecedented triple dip recession. The first official estimate from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed the economy shrank by 0.3% between October and December, slamming the recovery into reverse after the 0.9% growth seen in the previous quarter.
Friday, January 25th 2013 - 15:24 UTC
Falklands to host Commonwealth lawmakers’ conference: ‘self determination and devolution’ in agenda

The Falkland Islands will be hosting the 43rd British Islands and Mediterranean Region (BIMR) Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) from the 11th to 15th February 2013. This is the second time BIMR holds its annual conference in the Falklands, last time was in February 2004.