Stories for December 2009

Thursday, December 17th 2009 - 03:05 UTC
Brazil strong message to Paraguay on support of Venezuela inside Mercosur

Following this week’s Brazilian Senate vote to for the incorporation of Venezuela as a Mercosur full member, only Paraguay’s support is pending, but the Paraguayan Senate is divided on the issue. More over President Fernando Lugo had to withdraw the initiative last August when he was informed the divided coalition that took him to office could not garner the sufficient votes to ensure support.
Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 23:33 UTC
Leading case: EU Court ruling supports non disclosure of press sources

Judges at the European Court of Human Rights said that four British newspapers and a news agency were right to defy a court order to disclose documents that would have identified the source of a story about a multimillion pound City takeover in 2001.
Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 23:29 UTC
Socialist El Salvador president rejects XXI century Socialism

El Salvador president Mauricio Funes said his country will not take a single step towards the incorporation of his country to ALBA or the XXI century Socialism promoted by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and defended close relations with United States.
Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 23:25 UTC
UK record: one in five working age people economically inactive

Youth unemployment in the United Kingdom has reached a record high as the jobless total nudged 2.5 million, the worst total since the mid-1990s. The number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work was 952,000 in the three months to October, a quarterly rise of 6,000 and the highest figure since records began in 1992.
Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 23:12 UTC
Century old NZ butter found next to Scott’s camp in Antarctica

An almost 100-year-old pack of New Zealand butter, in good condition, has been found in Antarctica. The butter, bearing the maker's Fern leaf symbol and date, was found in a sack by workers at New Zealand's Scott Base, reported on Monday NZ press.
Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 23:09 UTC
EU fishing fleets agree to cut catches of cod, haddock and sole

The EU says European fishing fleets will have to cut their catches of cod, haddock and sole next year, but a ban on anchovy fishing has been lifted. The quota for cod fishing is being cut by 15-35%, depending on the area. But there is an exemption for cod fishing in West Scotland and the Celtic Sea.
Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 13:03 UTC
Mercosur: Finally Brazil’s Senate approved Venezuela incorporation

Bringing to close a year-long internal debate over the role of Venezuela in South American political and economic affairs, Brazil's Senate, by a vote of 35 to 27, voted Tuesday to approve the entrance of the country's northern neighbor into the Mercosur trade bloc.
Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 07:38 UTC
Moody’s warns about deterioration of sovereign triple-A ratings

Sovereign debt risk is rising globally, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom, which must outline plans to manage public debt or face ratings deterioration as soon as 2011, Moody's global head of sovereign ratings said this week.
Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 07:33 UTC
Climate Change: We Are All In The Same Boat

Global warming does not respect borders; a mindset shift is required if world leaders are to save us from ourselves
By Kofi Annan
Wednesday, December 16th 2009 - 05:50 UTC
Banco do Brazil interested in Argentina’s fourth largest bank

Banco do Brazil (BB), Latinamerica’s largest government-managed bank, is in talks with Argentina’s Banco Patagonia, seeking to expand internationally, announced CEO Aldemir Bendime.