International

• Friday, October 9th 2009 - 10:06 UTC

  Gibraltar to UN: political deal against our wishes is democratically unsustainable

  

  Gibraltar is politically, administratively and legislatively a self-governing country, Chief Minister Peter Caruana said Wednesday night during his address to the United Nations Fourth Committee in New York, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.

• Friday, October 9th 2009 - 05:42 UTC

  Bank of England “wait and see policy” leaves QE unchanged at £ 175 billion

  

  The Bank of England voted Thursday to hold interest rates at its 0.5% record low and continue with its £175 billion program to boost the money supply at its latest two-day meeting. The decision was taken despite concerns over the fragility of the UK recovery from recession.

• Friday, October 9th 2009 - 05:28 UTC

  French Overseas Territories vote in January on degree of autonomy

  

  Two French overseas territories, Martinique and French Guyana will be voting in an autonomy referendum next January 17, although the close relation with France will not be at stake. The announcement was made this week following a meeting of both OT leaders with President Nicholas Sarkozy.

• Thursday, October 8th 2009 - 03:26 UTC

  Spanish Central bank warns about bulging budget deficit and unemployment

  

  Controversy sparked between Spain’s government and the governor of the Central Bank over the magnitude of the budget deficit and rising unemployment which threatens loans and consumers’ repayments plus the stability of some Spanish banks.

• Thursday, October 8th 2009 - 03:21 UTC

  Santander Brazil successfully completes biggest share offering

  

  The Brazilian unit of Spanish banking giant Santander has raised 14.1 billion Reais, approximately 8.1 billion US dollars) in the country's biggest share offering.

• Thursday, October 8th 2009 - 03:16 UTC

  Ex UK Army chief critical of Afghanistan policy to join Tories

  

  David Cameron is to unveil ex-army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt as the latest recruit to his team. Sir Richard - who has been embroiled in a bitter row with Downing Street over troop levels in Afghanistan - is expected to become an adviser to the party on defence issues.

• Thursday, October 8th 2009 - 02:22 UTC

  Argentina discussing details of IMF technical mission visit to the country

  

  Following his forty minutes Tuesday meeting with IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Argentine Economy Minister Amado Boudou said that ”the new relationship (Argentina is) building with the IMF is purely technical and numbers-related, but by no means does it mean an interference with Argentine policy.”

• Thursday, October 8th 2009 - 01:03 UTC

  Late bookings are making Gibraltar cruise season unexpected success

  

  The cruise sector in Europe seems to have shrugged off the economic crisis and Gibraltar, in common with many key Mediterranean passenger ports, is reaping the benefit, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle.

• Wednesday, October 7th 2009 - 10:10 UTC

  Peru’s Machu Picchu among list of world cultural sites threatened

  

  Peru's Machu Picchu ancient ruins, Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona and a New Orleans elementary school are among the cultural heritage sites threatened by neglect or overdevelopment, a preservationist group said.

• Wednesday, October 7th 2009 - 05:42 UTC

  Australia breaks G20 monetary trend and raises main interest to 3.25%

  

  Australia has raised its main interest rate to 3.25% from 3%, becoming the first G20 nation to do so as the global economy begins to recover. The move by its central bank was not unexpected as the Australian economy was the only one in the developed world to expand in the first half of 2009.