Stories for December 11th 2008

Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Obama transition team supports call for Latam free trade

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Latinamerica to continue fighting poverty and avoid the temptation of closing off trade. Rice said on Wednesday countries should not “repeat the mistakes of the Great Depression when nations deepened that crisis by turning inward”.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Republicans oppose US auto industry rescue agreement

The White House and leading Congressional Democrats reached on Wednesday a broad agreement on a 14 billion US dollars rescue package for the “Big Three” US auto manufacturers but Republicans are still holding out.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Chavez defers for 2012 his “Socialist” constitution proposal

Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez announced Wednesday that he would promote a constitutional reform in 2012 for the establishment of a Socialist state. He made the announcement during the Air Force Day celebration.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
UN admits human rights protection is far from achieved

The international community has not lived up to the vision held in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a ceremony on Wednesday marking the 60th anniversary of the landmark document.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Russia/Argentina sign “strategic alliance” and criticize US

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner called for a closer partnership with Russia at Kremlin talks on Wednesday, implying criticism to the United States perceived dominance of world affairs.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Germany/UK clash over origin of crisis and Keynes legacy

The German finance minister has launched an outspoken attack on the UK government's plans to help pull Britain out of the economic downturn. In an unusual breach of standard diplomacy, Peer Steinbruck attacked the UK's decision to cut VAT and raise the national debt to record levels.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Putin's Russia supports Argentina's Falklands claim

Russia openly supported Argentina's sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands and called for a peaceful resolution of the dispute with Britain in the joint statement following the meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner with counterpart Dmitri Medvedev.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
YPF, Pan American, Petrobras to explore Malvinas basin

Argentina's YPF, Brazil's Petrobras and Pan American Energy signed several agreements for the joint oil and gas exploration offshore in the San Jorge Gulf, the Malvinas basin and along the South Atlantic coastline, according to a report released Wednesday in Buenos Aires.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
Royal Navy cash saving review delays building of carriers

Britain's Royal Navy two new aircraft carriers are likely to be delayed by up to two years following a cash-saving review of Ministry of Defence equipment spending, it was announced this week.
Thursday, December 11th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
US numbers deeper in the red in spite of falling oil prices

The US trade deficit unexpectedly grew in October, despite falling oil prices, according to Commerce Department data released this week. The trade deficit rose to 57.2bn, which was an increase of 1.1% from September's figure.