Politics

Thursday, December 9th 2010 - 07:47 UTC
Brazil central bank leaves basic rate unchanged, but hike anticipated for January

Brazilian policy makers kept their benchmark overnight rate unchanged on Wednesday after curbs on credit allowed central bank President Henrique Meirelles to leave anticipated rate increases for his successor.
Thursday, December 9th 2010 - 07:24 UTC
Uruguay, Mexico and Chile have the most numerous middle-class in Latam

According to the 2011 Latin American Economic Outlook report released on Dec. 3 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Chile has the third highest percentage of middle-class citizens in Latin America.
Thursday, December 9th 2010 - 07:20 UTC
Fire in an overcrowded Santiago de Chile jail, kills at least 83 inmates

Fire engulfed a prison in the Chilean capital Santiago Wednesday early in the morning, killing 83 inmates and critically injuring 14 others, the government said, in the worst-ever accident in the country's jail system.
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 - 17:14 UTC
China creates and awards “Confucius Peace Prize” ahead of Oslo’s ceremony

A newly formed Chinese organization says it will award its own peace prize on Thursday, a day before the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Norway to imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo.
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 - 16:47 UTC
Madrid’s position on Gibraltar territorial waters “lacks legal basis” says former ambassador

A retired Spanish diplomat has sparked controversy after circulating a number of opinion articles that contradicted the official Spanish position on key issues including Gibraltar.
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 - 16:27 UTC
Mercosur/EU trade negotiations on track for Brussels meeting in March

Trade negotiations between the European Union and Mercosur are making progress and are on track for a possible trade agreement by mid-2011, following coincidences on several controversial points.
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 - 07:25 UTC
Assange remanded in custody; Wikileaks promises to continue publishing material

The founder of whistle-blowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange, has been refused bail by a court in London but vowed to fight extradition to Sweden. Mr Assange denies sexually assaulting two women in Sweden. He was remanded in custody pending a hearing next week.
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 - 07:19 UTC
Obama defends tax deal with Republicans: “real money for real people”

President Barack Obama said on Tuesday the tentative tax deal he struck with Republicans is a good deal for the American people and a long political fight over tax cuts would have been bad for the US economy.
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 - 05:10 UTC
US and Israel criticize Mercosur members’ recognition of the state of Palestine

United States disapproved of the recognition of a Palestine state from the part of several Latin American countries, saying that direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians are still “the only way” to reach peace in the Middle East.
Wednesday, December 8th 2010 - 04:56 UTC
IMF criticizes Europe’s disjointed response to the Euro debt crisis

The head of the International Monetary Fund criticized Europe's disjointed response to the Euro zone debt crisis after Germany and other states resisted his calls for bolder action.