Stories for December 2009

Saturday, December 5th 2009 - 02:55 UTC
Brewing rift between UK and France over financial regulation

Talks scheduled to take place on Friday between UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have been cancelled. They may have helped to clear the air after President Sarkozy said the UK was the “big loser” when a Frenchman got the job as EU financial regulator.
Saturday, December 5th 2009 - 02:46 UTC
EC proposes Anglo-Spanish management of Gibraltar waters conservation

The European Commission, having sparked a diplomatic row by approving a Spanish nature site within British Gibraltar waters, now wants Britain and Spain to draw up a “joint management plan” for marine conservation in the area, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.
Saturday, December 5th 2009 - 02:43 UTC
Bolivian natural gas revenue forecasted to drop a third because of price factor

Bolivia’s revenue from natural gas exports will reach this year 2 billion US dollars, which is a billion less that the 3.1 billion reported in 2008, according to the country’s Hydrocarbons Chamber, CBH.
Saturday, December 5th 2009 - 02:38 UTC
Scrappage scheme boosted new car sales in United Kingdom

New car sales in the United Kingdom soared last month as consumers took advantage of the government's car scrappage scheme. A total of 158,082 new vehicles were registered in November 2009, a huge 57.6% increase on the November 2008 figure, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
Saturday, December 5th 2009 - 02:36 UTC
US unemployment in October remains above 10%: mixed reactions

The US unemployment rate fell in November to 10% from 10.2% in October, Labour Department figures show. Employers in November cut the lowest number of jobs since the recession began in December 2007.
Saturday, December 5th 2009 - 02:33 UTC
European Central Bank begins withdrawing stimuli liquidity

The European Central Bank (ECB) is to start withdrawing some of its special measures to support the economy. The bank is withdrawing some of its cheap short-term loans designed to boost the amount of money available in the markets and encourage bank lending.
Friday, December 4th 2009 - 15:36 UTC
Ozone hole protecting Antarctic from global warming, says SCAR

The ozone hole may be boosting the risk of skin cancer, but it's also protecting Antarctica from global warming, international researchers claim in an assessment of Antarctic climate change from the geological past to the present.
Friday, December 4th 2009 - 09:24 UTC
Ambitious South-South agreement to boost trade involves 22 countries

A group of 22 developing countries began signing this week in Geneva an agreement to cut tariffs with the purpose of boosting South-South trade, effective in spite of the World Trade Organization negotiations.
Friday, December 4th 2009 - 09:21 UTC
China attacks water pollution and plans massive investments

China will invest 13 billion US dollars in the next three years in projects to improve the quality of water faced with serious contamination problems, reported “China Daily”. Most of the money will go to sewage systems, water purifying and rainwater harvesting according to Deputy Environment minister Wu Xiaoqing.
Friday, December 4th 2009 - 08:11 UTC
Krugman praise and warnings about Brazilian economy excessive optimism

Brazil has had a better performance than other countries during the current financial slowdown but it has become necessary “to closely follow so much optimism”, said Economics Nobel Prize Paul Krugman during a conference in Sao Paulo.