United States

• Tuesday, April 17th 2012 - 00:28 UTC

  US candidate Dr. Kim chosen World Bank president; takes office next July

  

  US nominee Jim Yong Kim has been chosen as the new president of the World Bank. The Korean-American health expert, president of Dartmouth College faced a strong challenge for the post, which has traditionally gone to an American, from Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

• Monday, April 16th 2012 - 06:54 UTC

  Americas’ summit ends divided with no final declaration on the Cuban issue

  

  Unprecedented Latin American opposition to US sanctions on Cuba left President Barack Obama isolated at a summit on Sunday and illustrated Washington's challenged influence in a region being aggressively courted by China.

• Monday, April 16th 2012 - 06:52 UTC

  Obama insists Cuba must change and move to democracy

  

  President Barack Obama pressed on US policy toward Cuba by other leaders from the Americas, on Sunday voiced hope for a transition to democracy in the region's only one-party system state.

• Monday, April 16th 2012 - 06:49 UTC

  Timerman says summit left “a very positive balance” for Argentina

  

  Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman indicated that Argentina’s participation in the 6th Summit of the Americas “left a very positive balance,” and stressed on the importance of the bilateral meeting between President Cristina Fernández and US president Barack Obama.

• Monday, April 16th 2012 - 04:55 UTC

  Obama confirms at the summit US neutrality on the Falklands/Malvinas question

  

  The US will remain on the sidelines in the dispute between the UK and Argentina over the Falkland Islands sovereignty, said President Barack Obama on Sunday at the conclusion of the Summit of the Americas in Colombia.

• Sunday, April 15th 2012 - 21:56 UTC

  YPF dispute in calmer waters: Argentina yields and Repsol CEO calls for dialogue

  

  The CEO from Spain’s main oil corporation Repsol, Antonio Brufau said that there should be no speeches or attempts to impose, but rather more dialogue, in direct reference to the ongoing conflict with the Argentine government over the possible takeover of the YPF branch.

• Sunday, April 15th 2012 - 20:57 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez abandons summit with no declaration on Falklands/Malvinas

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernández left the 6th Summit of the Americas held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, before the official closing meeting allegedly in protest against a lack of regional support for Argentina’s claims in the Falklands/Malvinas dispute with the UK.

• Sunday, April 15th 2012 - 16:03 UTC

  China allows wider flotation margin for the Yuan against the US dollar

  

  China will allow the Yuan to trade in a wider daily range against the US dollar from Monday, taking another major step to further liberalise its exchange rate regime and make its currency more market oriented.

• Sunday, April 15th 2012 - 15:59 UTC

  US security personnel prostitution scandal eclipses much of the Summit of the Americas

  

  A prostitution scandal involving US security personnel in Colombia and an unprecedented regional push to end the isolation of Cuba threatened to eclipse President Barack Obama's charm offensive to Latin America.

• Sunday, April 15th 2012 - 04:34 UTC

  Obama and CFK leave trade issues aside and want to continue as ‘friends and partners’

  

  President Cristina Fernández and US President Barack Obama agreed to work upon trade differences “which in no way conform the central aspects of the bilateral relationship” during their Saturday afternoon half hour meeting with an “open agenda” at the 6th Summit of the Americas hosted by Colombia.