Stories for September 2009

Monday, September 21st 2009 - 11:12 UTC
Colombian government/FARC agree on hostages’ liberation

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe agreed to demands from next of kin of hostages held by the FARC rebels and will accept the release of kidnapped policemen and soldiers one at a time rather than all at once, a reversal in government policy that could speed up releases.
Monday, September 21st 2009 - 08:43 UTC
Venezuela prepares for a package to “reactivate” the economy

Venezuelans are expecting this week further details of President Hugo Chávez anticipated package of new economic measures intended to increase the supply of US dollars and reactivate the local economy.
Monday, September 21st 2009 - 08:37 UTC
Lula da Silva denies arms race and justifies investment in defence

Brazilian president Lula da Silva denied South America had embarked in an arms race and justified purchases by Brazil, Chile, Venezuela and Colombia the four countries at the forefront of military hardware expenditure.
Monday, September 21st 2009 - 06:57 UTC
South Georgia’s whaling history to the prelude of the Falklands conflict (*)

On September 13th 1909, 100 years ago, the “SS Starlight” arrived at South Georgia with men and materials to erect a shore whaling station. Her destination was a cove in Stromness Bay which became known appropriately as Leith Harbour because the company building the station was Christian Salvesen's of Leith, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Saturday, September 19th 2009 - 11:42 UTC
Lula da Silva predicts Brazil will become world power in ten years

President Lula da Silva predicts that Brazil in the near future will be in the short list of the world’s largest economies, probable in third or fourth position, and if “less lucky” at the most ranked fifth.
Saturday, September 19th 2009 - 11:37 UTC
European leaders agree on global deal for bankers’ bonuses

European Union leaders have agreed to seek a global deal for bankers' bonuses to be clawed back if profits fall. The leaders meeting in Brussels approved the clause as part of a common EU position for next week's G20 summit in Pittsburgh in the US.
Saturday, September 19th 2009 - 11:34 UTC
US tighter supervision of credit rating agencies

United States credit rating agencies will face tighter supervision under new rules adopted by the US financial watchdog.
Saturday, September 19th 2009 - 11:26 UTC
Reflecting recession, Argentina’s foreign trade dropped by 40% during August

Argentina's August trade surplus dropped 48% from the same month a year ago to 1.16 billion US dollars as exports sank, the government said on Friday. Imports fell by 37% during the month to 3.25 billion, while exports dropped by an even bigger 40% to 4.40 billion USD due to lower prices and reduced volumes, particularly by the drought-hit farming industry.
Saturday, September 19th 2009 - 11:21 UTC
Brazil’ stock exchange reaches new high; 62% gain so far in 2009

Brazilian blue-chip shares closed on Friday at a 14-month high as global investors continue to flock to the country. The benchmark Ibovespa stocks index closed 0.8% higher at 60,703 points, up from Thursday's close at 60,236 points and breaking through the psychologically important 60,500-point mark.
Saturday, September 19th 2009 - 11:19 UTC
Latinamerican conference on regional migratory policy

Latinamerican countries will try to unify a regional migratory policy during the 9th South American Conference on Migration, to be held here on Sept. 21-22, announced Ecuadorian Migration Minister Lorena Escudero.