Economy

• Wednesday, December 28th 2011 - 01:13 UTC

  Argentine president to undergo surgery for papillary thyroid cancer next week

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez has tested positive for papillary thyroid cancer and will undergo surgery next January 4. The Argentine leader will be taking a leave of absence until January 24th, announced on Tuesday the Executive spokesperson Alfredo Scoccimarro.

• Tuesday, December 27th 2011 - 13:57 UTC

  Argentine Media bill: “a dictatorship couldn’t have done it better”

  

  The conservative and influential Brazilian newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo in an editorial described the Argentine government as an “austral democradura” (authoritarian regime) which is sponsoring legislation “to terrorize the media”.

• Tuesday, December 27th 2011 - 13:56 UTC

  Brazil votes 2012 budget limiting civil servants salaries and pension increases

  

  The Brazilian Congress approved next year's budget bill, rejecting wage increases for pensioners and public servants in a bid to contain spending as volatility advances in international markets.

• Tuesday, December 27th 2011 - 13:54 UTC

  Rousseff reiterates pledge to eliminate extreme poverty in Brazil by 2014

  

  President Dilma Rousseff, about to complete her first year in office, reiterated she remains committed to eliminate extreme poverty in Brazil by the end of her term in 2013.

• Tuesday, December 27th 2011 - 13:52 UTC

  Cuba advances with capitalist reforms to install efficient market economy

  

  Cuba will open up more of the country's retail services to the private sector next year, allowing Cubans to operate various services such as appliance and watch repair, and locksmith and carpentry shops, official media reported on Monday.

• Tuesday, December 27th 2011 - 07:04 UTC

  Chile confirms it supports Mercosur resolution barring Falklands’ flagged vessels

  

  Chilean government Secretary General Andres Chadwick denied on Monday any official message from Britain or from Spain regarding Chilean support for the resolution that bars vessels flying the Malvinas flag from Mercosur ports, reports La Tercera from Santiago.

• Monday, December 26th 2011 - 21:10 UTC

  Brazil overtakes the UK and becomes the world’s sixth largest economy

  

  Brazil has overtaken the UK as the world's sixth largest economy according to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, CEBR. The latest World Economic League Table also showed Asian countries moving up and European countries falling back.

• Monday, December 26th 2011 - 21:08 UTC

  “Grand principles don’t impress” IMF chief reminds the Euro zone leaders

  

  The head of the International Monetary Fund said that the world economy was in danger and urged Europeans to speak with one voice on a debt crisis that has rattled the global financial system.

• Monday, December 26th 2011 - 18:07 UTC

  “Except for Malvinas, we have a very good dialogue with the UK”, says Almagro

  

  Leaving aside the current diplomatic situation with the UK because of the Uruguayan government decision to bar Malvinas’ flagged vessels from local ports, “we have a very good dialogue with Great Britain” said Uruguayan Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro.

• Monday, December 26th 2011 - 11:27 UTC

  “People must know full facts” about Argentina’s intentions in the Falklands

  

  Many Members of Parliament and in the Lords, from all parties, are totally committed to standing up for the Falkland Islands and rebutting the actions of Argentina, according to Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell and Secretary of the Falkland Islands Group in Westminster. He added people must know the true facts and intentions behind Argentina’s actions.