Stories for December 2008
Uruguay, Colombia, Peru won't support Kirchner in Unasur
Peru and Colombia don't support former Argentine president Nestor Kirchner for the job of Unasur (Union of South American Nations) secretary general, according to reports from Lima and Bogotá.
Brazil announces plan to limit Amazon deforestation
Brazil announced on Monday a plan to cut destruction of its Amazon rain forest by more than half over the next 10 years. The aim is to reduce deforestation of the world's largest forest by 70% by 2018.
Brazil's surplus up but volume of trade down in November
Brazil's trade surplus widened in November as imports fell by more than exports, the trade ministry said on Monday.
UK manufacturing slowdown continues to take hold
British manufacturing fell at a record pace in November as the slowdown continued to take hold, the latest figures have revealed.
World economy heading for first contraction since 1930, warns UN
United Nations said on Monday the world economy faces its worst downturn since the Great Depression. It expects world economic output to shrink by as much as 0.4% in 2009, due to a slump among developed countries - particularly the US and in Europe.
UK state-control banks mellow home repossession actions
Britain's Royal Bank of Scotland has announced that it will give struggling homeowners at least six months before launching repossession action. The NatWest parent said it was doubling the three-month breathing space currently offered to borrowers who fall behind with mortgage repayments.
Parliament awaits statement on MP's office police raid
United Kingdom Justice Secretary Jack Straw has appeared to indicate that ministers had been “surprised” by the nature of the raids on Tory frontbencher Damian Green's homes and offices.
CFK administration increasingly jittery about global crisis
Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's government defended the controversial financial incentive scheme proposed in its anti-crisis bill last week, which will be debated this week in Congress, stating that there is “no chance” it will promote money laundering.
Socialists call for return to EU founding fathers' spirit
The new French Socialist leader Martine Aubry defended a strong economic stimulus program “to help the weakest” based on the Social-democrat model because “communism died twenty years ago, and neo-liberalism just two months ago”.
UK has no plans to join the Euro, says PM Brown's office
The British government has denied a shift in policy on the Euro after the European Commission's president said the UK was “closer than ever before” to joining.
