
Top Chinese financial officials defended the country’s current economic policy and stated there was no need for a major appreciation of the currency or an increase in interest rates since inflation was declining.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva has cancelled plans to attend the G-20 economic summit in Toronto, Canada after flooding in the northeast of the country left at least 51 people dead and 120,000 others homeless.

Venezuela will nationalize a fleet of oil rigs belonging to US Company Helmerich and Payne, the latest takeover in a push to XXI century Socialism announced President Hugo Chávez as he struggles with lower oil output and a recession.

Argentina’s newly appointed Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman begins next Tuesday a round of regional contacts which will take him to Uruguay, Brazil and Chile.

Brazil and Argentina made significant advances in outstanding bilateral trade issues following a joint meeting Thursday between top policy makers, Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega told reporters.

The United Nations Decolonisation Committee unanimously approved a resolution calling on Argentina and the United Kingdom to ensure the dialogue process and resume negotiations for a peaceful solution to the Falklands/Malvinas question.

“We would like nothing better than to have a peaceful coexistence with Argentina”, said Falkland Islands Member of the Legislative Assembly Gavin Short addressing the UN Decolonization Committee.

The people of the Falkland Islands do not want to become part of Argentina and by pursuing its sovereignty claim “Argentina is seeking to colonise the people of the Falkland Islands”, said Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly Member Emma Edwards before the UN Decolonization Committee.

The European Union (EU) has urged the G20 club of nations to agree when to scrap their economic support packages. The EU said a coordinated exit from stimulus measures would help restore confidence and reduce the risk that some countries would be disadvantaged.

Brazil’s incumbent candidate Dilma Rousseff took the lead in the country’s presidential race, according to a new poll. Rousseff, President Lula da Silva’s former cabinet chief, is supported by 40% of those surveyed, according to an Ibope poll for the National Industrial Confederation, or CNI, that was published Wednesday in Brasilia.