International

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 23:28 UTC

  China and IADB agree on one billion investment fund; warnings from Brazil

  

  China and the Inter-American Development Bank said on Monday they are starting a 1-billion US dollars fund to invest in Latin America, though the Asian giant’s latest push to expand its influence in the region prompted words of caution from Brazil.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 23:23 UTC

  Philip Morris sues Uruguay cigarette-labeling claiming violation of investment treaty

  

  Measures taken by Uruguay to deter smokers have drawn a legal challenge by one of the world’s largest tobacco companies under a treaty designed to protect foreign investors, according to the Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 15:44 UTC

  FAO Food price index rose 1% in February but is 10% below a year ago

  

  The FAO Food Price Index rose 1% or 2.4 points from January to February. The Index climbed nearly 2% in January – its first increase in six months. The February increase was mostly driven by higher prices of sugar, oils and cereals while dairy prices fell slightly after a marked rise in January.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 15:41 UTC

  FAO forecasts second highest on record wheat crop for 2012 with 690 million tons

  

  FAO forecasts that 2012 world wheat production will be the second highest on record at 690 million tonnes. According to FAO quarterly Crop prospects and food situation report forecast a 2012 wheat crop 10 million tons or 1.4% down from the record 2011 harvest but still well above the average of the past five years.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 15:36 UTC

  Latam risks in 2012: commodities’ prices, China and European banks

  

  The economy of Latin America and the Caribbean should grow 3.6% this year, down from recent rates above 5% as slower expansion in China, a soft recovery in the US and debt woes in Europe weigh on the global economy.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:49 UTC

  Greenland’s ice sheet melting much faster that forecasted

  

  Greenland’s ice sheet is more sensitive to global warming than previously thought, according to Spanish and German researchers. The ice sheet may lose its ability to grow once warming reaches 1.6 degrees, a study published in Nature Climate Change found.

• Sunday, March 18th 2012 - 19:50 UTC

  HMS Illustrious, command ship in tough Arctic weather training

  

  Royal Navy helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious is in the midst of NATO Exercise Cold Response, based in the Arctic. Illustrious is the command ship for Major General Ed Davis, Commandant General Royal Marines, who, with his Commander Amphibious Forces staff, is directing the movements of allied warships.

• Saturday, March 17th 2012 - 07:21 UTC

  YPF is an Argentine asset run by Spanish investors, De Vido tells Madrid

  

  Argentine Planning Minister Julio de Vido lashed out at Spanish Industry Minister José Manuel Soria by saying that oil company YPF is an Argentine corporation run by Spanish investors and should not be considered an asset of the European country.

• Saturday, March 17th 2012 - 07:18 UTC

  Brazilian judge dismisses first dictatorship era case involving an Army officer

  

  Brazilian judge dismissed the first charges ever brought against an army officer over crimes committed during the country's 1964-1985 military dictatorship, dealing a blow to rights groups and victims' families.

• Saturday, March 17th 2012 - 06:10 UTC

  US confirms ‘neutral position’ in Falklands’ dispute; hopes for cooperation on practical issues

  

  United States stated that it maintains its “neutral position” over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands dispute between Argentina and UKand hopes for an agreed solution, an official source of the US government assured after the three day visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron which included several meetings at the White House