Stories for December 2009

Monday, December 7th 2009 - 23:44 UTC
Brazilian inflation and interest rates forecasted to increase in 2010

The Brazilian economy is forecasted to expand 0.21% in 2009 according to a Central Bank poll among financial experts and which is published weekly in the Focus Bulletin. In the previous edition the growth estimate was 0.20%.
Monday, December 7th 2009 - 23:41 UTC
Chile, gateway for illegal phony name brands products mainly from China

Phony name brand products produced in China are increasingly a headache for Chile’s customs and police authorities.
Monday, December 7th 2009 - 12:29 UTC
A two-day busy Mercosur summit begins Monday in Montevideo

Uruguay is hosting as of Monday the Mercosur bi-annual presidential summit which will have as top issue of the agenda trade differences among its members, particularly Argentina and Brazil, and on the sidelines contacts of Uruguay’s president-elect Jose Mujica with leaders from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay
Monday, December 7th 2009 - 11:22 UTC
Landslide victory and Senate majority for Evo Morales in Bolivia

Bolivian president Evo Morales won by a landslide majority in Sunday’s general elections and according to exit polls has ensured the Senate two thirds majority needed to continue with his reforms program some of them considered controversial.
Monday, December 7th 2009 - 11:20 UTC
Opposition does not discard impeachment of President Cristina Kirchner

A leader of the Argentine opposition does not discard the possibility of impeaching President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner for alleged acts of corruption.
Monday, December 7th 2009 - 11:12 UTC
Global warming research image damaged by hackers

United Nations’ top climate official has conceded that hacked e-mails from climate scientists had damaged the image of global warming research but said evidence of a warming Earth is solid.
Monday, December 7th 2009 - 11:06 UTC
Olympic City Rio do Janeiro boasts world’s largest floating Xmas tree

The lights are blazing from the world's largest floating Christmas tree -- a gigantic 85-metre high metal structure set on a lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, the city that will host the 2016 Olympic Games.
Monday, December 7th 2009 - 11:03 UTC
Britain planning windfall tax on bankers’ bonuses

British Chancellor Alistair Darling has left the door open to a windfall tax on bankers' bonuses amid reports that the move could be central to this week's Pre-Budget Report. Darling warned the better-off that they would have to pay more towards the cost of the economic recovery but sidestepped questions about the prospect of a temporary levy targeted at British-based banks.
Monday, December 7th 2009 - 10:57 UTC
Falklands’ HMS Sheffield commander died December 3

Rear-Admiral Sam Salt, who died on December 3 aged 69, commanded the first British warship to be sunk by enemy action after the Second World War
Monday, December 7th 2009 - 10:48 UTC
Brazil purchase of Russian air defence systems could curtail US sale of aircraft

The possible purchase of Russian anti-aircraft batteries for the Brazilian Army could influence Brazilian negotiations for the acquisition of US manufactured fighter planes, reports the Sunday edition of Correio Braziliense.