Politics

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 09:10 UTC

  Brazil, Peru and Uruguay forecasted to expand 5.5% and 5% next year

  

  Brazil, Peru and Uruguay are forecasted to expand 5% or more next year according to the Preliminary Balance from the Economic Commission for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, Eclac, released Thursday in Santiago de Chile.

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 09:06 UTC

  Peru to purchase Chinese tanks and Brazilian fighter planes

  

  Peruvian president Alan García defended his government’s decision to purchase Chinese tanks and Brazilian fighter planes just a few weeks after accusing Chile of an arms race and proposing an initiative to limit military expenditure in the region.

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 07:51 UTC

  US extends bail-out fund until October next year “to assist American families”

  

  US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has announced that the 700 billion US dollars financial bail-out fund will be extended until October next year.

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 07:47 UTC

  Bank of England leaves rates and QE program unchanged

  

  The Bank of England has held UK interest rates at the record low of 0.5% in a widely-expected move. It also announced no changes to its program of pumping newly-created money into the economy - so-called quantitative easing (QE).

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 07:44 UTC

  UK Chancellor warned about spending cuts and budget deficit targets

  

  United Kingdom Chancellor Alistair Darling was warned he must find £36 billion in new spending cuts if the British Government is to meet its commitment to halve the budget deficit over the next four years.

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 07:40 UTC

  Chile denies any plans to work with FOGL in Falklands’ oil exploration

  

  Chile reaffirmed Thursday that the country’s oil corporation Enap has no plans or prospects of exploring for oil in the Malvinas Islands maritime territory or any form of association with Falkland Oil and Gas Limited.

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 06:40 UTC

  Over 35.000 Carabineros mobilized for Chile’s Sunday election

  

  Chile's police force (Carabineros) this week outlined plans to protect the eight million voters expected to participate in Sunday's presidential election. Over 35,000 officers will be mobilized nationwide to ensure the election takes place smoothly, with Carabineros giving special attention to possible anarchist bomb threats.

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 06:22 UTC

  Billionaire Piñera favourite to win Chile’s Sunday presidential election

  

  The latest poll published in Santiago just four days before Chileans elect their next president - confirms billionaire businessman Sebastian Piñera as the heads-on favourite to win next Sunday’s vote.

• Friday, December 11th 2009 - 04:11 UTC

  President Obama defended the concept of “just war” at Peace Nobel ceremony

  

  President Barack Obama defended the concept of a just war as he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway on Thursday. The US leader acknowledged he was a controversial recipient, not least because he is the commander-in-chief of a nation fighting two conflicts overseas.

• Thursday, December 10th 2009 - 13:24 UTC

  Idle capacity and low inflation allow Brazil to keep basic rate unchanged

  

  Brazil’s central bank kept the benchmark Selic interest rate at a record low for the third straight meeting as inflation remains below target. The bank’s eight-member board, led by President Henrique Meirelles, voted unanimously on Wednesday to keep the overnight rate at 8.75%.