International

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 19:19 UTC

  Argentina formalizes proposal for air link with Falklands and resumption of fisheries’ cooperation

  

  Argentina made a formal proposal to the UK for the establishment of direct flights from Argentina to the Falklands and to resume cooperation in the conservation of fishery resources in the South Atlantic, indicates a release posted on Tuesday in the Argentine Foreign Ministry site.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 06:25 UTC

  Iceland forgives ex PM for 2008 financial crisis and meltdown of the economy

  

  Former Icelandic PM Geir Haarde has been found not guilty of negligence over the 2008 financial crisis that saw the island's economy go into meltdown. A special court in Reykjavik said Mr Haarde would face no punishment and his legal expenses would be paid for.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 06:20 UTC

  S&P downgrades Repsol’s rating; sees no compensation payment in near-term

  

  Rating Agency S&P announced on Thursday it was downgrading Spain-based energy company Repsol-YPF after Argentina’s government announced the expropriation of 51% of its shares. The rating was lowered from BBB to BBB (minus), the agency said in a statement.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 03:57 UTC

  YPF nationalization bill does not contemplate compensations, says Kirchnerite Senator

  

  Senator from the Argentine ruling majority and former cabinet chief, Aníbal Fernández assured that the government “will pay the real price for the expropriation of YPF and not what Repsol’s chairman (Antonio Brufau) wants.”

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 01:51 UTC

  Colombia offers to mediate in the YPF conflict between Argentina and Spain

  

  Colombia is available to mediate between Spain and Argentina to find a solution to the dispute over the seizure of YPF from Repsol, said Colombian Vice-president Angelino Garzón.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 01:45 UTC

  London property boom: Asians bought 51% of new luxury homes

  

  Investors from China and Southeast Asia bought one in every two new homes in central London last year as the number of wealthy individuals in the region swells, Jones Lang LaSalle Inc., said.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 01:23 UTC

  Spain’s Repsol threatens companies investing in seized YPF with legal actions

  

  Spain’s main oil corporation Repsol warned it could take legal action against companies that invest in YPF after Argentina seized control of the Spanish company's energy unit last week.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 01:09 UTC

  Setback for Spain: EU confirms trade talks with Mercosur, including Argentina

  

  A member of the European Union assured it is not possible to negotiate an agreement between the EU and Mercosur without Argentina, as the Spanish Government planned after the country’s decision to expropriate YPF.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 00:52 UTC

  Spain back in recession and already high unemployment expected to increase

  

  Spain's jobs-scarce economy plunged back into recession in the first quarter of 2012 as employment slumped even further, the Bank of Spain said on Monday. Barely two years after emerging from the last downturn Spain slid into recession again with two consecutive quarters of economic contraction the central bank said in a report.

• Tuesday, April 24th 2012 - 00:48 UTC

  Extreme right-wing National Front kingmaker of next French president

  

  French President Nicolas Sarkozy appealed directly to far right voters on Monday with pledges to get tough on immigration and security, after a record showing in a first round election by the National Front made them potential kingmakers.