Politics

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 23:32 UTC

  Xi pledges to combat corruption, bureaucracy and rule closer to the people

  

  Xi Jinping has been confirmed as the man to lead China for the next decade. Mr Xi led the new Politburo Standing Committee onto the stage at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, signalling his elevation to the top of China's ruling Communist Party.

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 19:28 UTC

  UK summoned Spanish ambassador to complain about latest Gibraltar incursions

  

  The Foreign Office summoned the Spanish ambassador in London and condemned Madrid’s ‘provocative incursions’ in Gibraltar waters saying that it “is in the interests of Spain, as well as Gibraltar and Britain, to avoid any incident that may damage the prospects of developing a harmonious and collaborative relationship between Gibraltar and Spain”.

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 19:00 UTC

  Uruguayan industry criticizes imports policy, labour costs and Mercosur

  

  Uruguay’ Chamber of Industries, CIU, criticized the ‘indiscriminate’ influx of foreign goods, labour costs and Mercosur, and called on government to change the focus of its policies towards manufacturing underscoring that the domestic market represents 55% of industries’ GDP.

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 18:44 UTC

  BRIC miracle largely over; mature economies take the lead, says US Conference Board

  

  The catch-up boom in China, India and Brazil is largely over and will be followed by a drastic slowdown over the next decade, according to a report by America's top forecasting body.

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 18:33 UTC

  Congress gives Cristina Fernandez additional tool to dismember Clarin group

  

  Argentina's Congress approved on Wednesday a new legal regulation which critics say President Cristina Fernandez could use to force a conclusion in her long-running battle with the country's biggest media group.

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 11:01 UTC

  Obama immigration reform wants to attract and retain highly skilled manpower

  

  US President Barack Obama plans to give new thrust to a comprehensive immigration reform in the country, one that would not only address the issue of illegal immigrants but also how to attract and retain highly skilled manpower from the rest of the world.

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 06:38 UTC

  “A modest tax increase on the wealthy is not going to break their backs” said Obama

  

  President Obama has reiterated his call for high earners in the US to pay more in taxes, in his first news conference since winning re-election. He called for quick legislation to rule out tax rises on the first 250.000 dollars of income, but refused to extend cuts for the wealthiest 2%.

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 02:20 UTC

  Argentina takes Ghana to the Law of the Sea Tribunal over the retained frigate

  

  The Argentine government, as anticipated on Wednesday formally reported Ghana before the Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, in a bid to try to recuperate the ship that has been detained in Tema port since October 2. Argentina also announced it will demand compensation for the ‘illicit action’ losses.

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 02:16 UTC

  Contacts with Ghana navy help restore water and power supply to ARA Libertad

  

  Ghana port authorities, GPHA, on Wednesday re-established water and power supply to the Argentine Navy flagship ARA Libertad retained in Tema, according to naval sources from Buenos Aires.

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 02:08 UTC

  Uruguayan populist president Jose Mujica, as described by BBC

  

  It's a common grumble that politicians' lifestyles are far removed from those of their electorate. Not so in Uruguay. Meet the president - who lives on a ramshackle farm and gives away most of his pay.