International

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 22:23 UTC

  Former councillor Cockwell receives OBE from the Queen for promoting Falklands internationally

  

  Former Falkland Islands elected Councillor Richard Cockwell last week received his OBE from Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Richard was awarded the honour for his work promoting the Falklands internationally.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 22:01 UTC

  Poll shows 61% UK support for defending the Falklands; young voters not so sure

  

  As the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the South Atlantic conflict approaches, a new poll conducted in the UK by the newspaper The Guardian has shown that British people are largely determined to defend the islands.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 21:51 UTC

  Peru denies President Humala coming UK visit; confirms May trip to Argentina

  

  Peruvian Foreign Affairs minister Rafael Roncagliolo denied President Ollanta Humala had accepted an invitation to visit London next month, Lima’s El Comercio reported Tuesday in the front page.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 21:49 UTC

  Moody’s: Spain needs to implement more austerity; 4.000 town councils financially ‘non viable’

  

  Rating agency Moody's said on Tuesday that Spain's fiscal outlook remained challenging despite recently softened deficit targets. The announcement comes when the Secretary for Public administration admitted that 4.000 ‘ayuntamientos’ town councils in Spain are not financially viable.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 05:02 UTC

  WB backs selective use of capital controls when faced with massive inflows

  

  The World Bank’s new Latin America chief backed selective use of capital controls when inflows were creating asset bubbles or distorting foreign exchange markets. Hasan Tuluy, the Bank’s new vice-president for Latin America and the Caribbean, said while trade protectionism should be avoided, there was space for macro prudential measures.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 04:46 UTC

  Australian Senate approves law to tax 30% iron ore and coal mining companies

  

  The Australian Senate has pushed through into law a 30% tax on iron ore and coal mining companies. The tax will raise A$10.6bn (11.2bn dollars) over three years from major companies including BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xtrata.

• 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.