Politics

• Thursday, June 18th 2009 - 14:50 UTC

  US unveils major banking shake-up since the 1930s

  

  The US government has announced a major reform of banking regulation to prevent future financial crises. The overhaul will require big banks to put more money aside against future losses to curb excessive risk taking.

• Thursday, June 18th 2009 - 14:44 UTC

  Peru moves to reconcile with protesting indigenous peoples

  

  Peru's government is moving toward reconciliation with the indigenous peoples after two months of rioting and protest that left over fifty people dead. The government of President Alan García wants to delay the implementation of two plans to open parts of the Peruvian Amazon to foreign investment.

• Thursday, June 18th 2009 - 14:29 UTC

  UK minister quits for allegedly avoiding to pay capital gains tax

  

  A British minister has quit the Government after allegations that she avoided paying up to £17,000 in capital gains tax by “flipping” her second home. Kitty Ussher said she had not done anything wrong, but was quitting as Exchequer Secretary to avoid causing “embarrassment” to Gordon Brown.

• Thursday, June 18th 2009 - 14:18 UTC

  UK pressing Spain and EU on Gibraltar waters incident

  

  Britain is pressing Spain and the European Commission to resolve the dispute over designation of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and will continue to do so until a solution is found, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle

• Thursday, June 18th 2009 - 14:13 UTC

  Jon Benjamin, next UK ambassador in Chile

  

  Jon Benjamin has been appointed British Ambassador to Chile in succession to Mr Howard Drake OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.

• Thursday, June 18th 2009 - 14:10 UTC

  HMS Manchester sailors “dump” McDonald statue in Valparaiso harbour

  

  Two Royal Navy sailors from HMS Manchester have appeared in court in Chile for stealing a life-size statue from a McDonald's restaurant.

• Wednesday, June 17th 2009 - 12:20 UTC

  Scornful clashes inside Uruguay’s ruling coalition surprise public opinion

  

  The dispute for Uruguay’s ruling coalition presidential nomination has spiralled to unexpected levels while a group of senior members try and work out a viable understanding between the leading hopefuls for the day after, when a unified Broad Front is essential to repeat victory in next October’s general election.

• Wednesday, June 17th 2009 - 12:08 UTC

  BRIC leaders call for a “more diversified” currency system

  

  The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China -- the BRIC nations -- called for a “more diversified” currency system and a new global order after holding their first summit amid growing talk over the US dollar future as the global reserve unit.

• Wednesday, June 17th 2009 - 11:46 UTC

  Arrests linked to Mvdeo/Vigo fish containers cocaine stuffed ring

  

  Six Uruguayans and two Colombians were arrested this week in Spain in connection with an international organization that shipped cocaine from South America to Europe as well as managing a plant to print fake Euros.

• Wednesday, June 17th 2009 - 05:30 UTC

  UK inflation in May fell to 2.2% from 2.3% in April

  

  United Kingdom annual inflation slowed again in May as the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) fell to 2.2% from 2.3% in April, reported the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The less-than-expected decline means the figure remains above the Bank of England's target of 2%. However, the annual inflation reading was the lowest since January 2008.