Stories for December 2008

Monday, December 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Monday, December 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Monday, December 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Monday, December 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Monday, December 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Monday, December 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Monday, December 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Monday, December 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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.
Monday, December 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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”.
Monday, December 1st 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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.