Stories for June 29th 2009

Tuesday, June 30th 2009 - 06:47 UTC
Baroness Thatcher with her left arm in a sling, released from hospital

Baroness Thatcher has returned home from hospital more than two weeks after breaking her arm in a fall. The former Prime Minister, dressed in a pink cardigan, pink top and cream-coloured skirt, with her left arm apparently in a sling, waved at reporters and smiled on the doorstep of her central London home.
Tuesday, June 30th 2009 - 06:44 UTC
Royal family costs British taxpayer 69p per person

Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family cost the British taxpayer 69p per person last year - an increase of 3p, Buckingham Palace accounts have revealed. The total cost of keeping the monarchy increased by £1.5 million to £41.5 million during the 2008-09 financial year.
Tuesday, June 30th 2009 - 06:40 UTC
Brazil-China bilateral trade in Real and Yuan instead of US dollar

The Brazilian Central Bank announced it had reached an initial understanding with China for the gradual elimination of the US dollar in bilateral trade operations which in 2009 are estimated to reach 40 billion US dollars.
Tuesday, June 30th 2009 - 06:37 UTC
Mercosur will address inter-group trade restrictions in Paraguay

Mercosur Foreign Affairs and Economy ministers will be meeting Tuesday in Asuncion, Paraguay in the framework of the Common Market Group to discuss trade barriers and try to unwind several issues.
Monday, June 29th 2009 - 15:11 UTC
Argentina ready to impose flu pandemic “sanitary emergency”

Health authorities confirmed that this week Argentina will be declaring a “sanitary emergency” in the whole country given the advance of the A/H1N1 virus influenza that so far has killed 27 people and infected at least 1.800. Another victim of the pandemic is forecasted to be Public Health minister Graciela Ocaña.
Monday, June 29th 2009 - 14:21 UTC
Victorious Argentine opposition calls on Cristina to begin negotiations

“With all respect to our President, (Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner) I hope you have heard the message of the Argentines in the polls and beginning tomorrow (Monday) you will convene us to dialogue”, said the Mayor of the City of Buenos Aires, Mauricio Macri who emerged from Sunday’s mid term election as one of the strongest 2011 presidential hopefuls.
Monday, June 29th 2009 - 11:44 UTC
UN and OAS will address Monday the Honduras coup

The United Nations and the Organization of American States will be addressing Monday the Honduras situation following the military coup which on early Sunday morning ousted constitutionally elected president Jose Manuel Zelaya.
Monday, June 29th 2009 - 11:34 UTC
Uruguayan opposition seals presidential ticket in surprising vote turnout

Jose Mujica from the ruling coalition, Luis Alberto Lacalle and Pedro Bordaberry from the opposition are the three candidates that will be disputing Uruguay’s presidency next October following their comfortable victories on Sunday’s political parties’ primaries. The “picture” resulting from June 28th results also helped to visualize what could happen in October and if a November run-off will be needed.
Monday, June 29th 2009 - 11:16 UTC
Whaling Commission could discuss ending commercial hunting ban

The Whaling Commission (IWC) has suggested whale conservation could benefit from ending the commercial hunting ban. Dr William Hogarth's remarks came at the end of this year's IWC meeting in Madeira, Portugal, which saw pro- and anti-whaling nations agree to further compromise talks. A Greenpeace spokesman said the moratorium had to stay intact.
Monday, June 29th 2009 - 10:48 UTC
Falklands’ unpredictable squid catches paint bleak budget and tough times

Falkland Islands Treasury officials painted a bleak and arguably inevitable picture of tough times ahead at last week’s public meeting on the recently announced Budget.