Stories for June 27th 2012
Brazil going “to bus” its way out of the economic slowdown
The Brazilian government plans to buy over a third of the country’s output of buses and reduce borrowing costs for state-funded investments to a record as part of a new round of measures to revive stalled growth.
The man who steered Greece into the Euro zone is back on the helm
The Greek government has appointed a new finance minister after its first choice resigned due to ill health less than a week after being appointed. Economist Yannis Stournaras has now been appointed, the government said.
Bolivian police return to work with a first main job: contain an indigenous march
Bolivia's police ended a violent mutiny and went back to work on Wednesday after reaching an accord with government ministers and the police leadership on pay and disciplinary rules, satisfying lower-ranking officers who had rejected a previous deal.
“A parliamentary system would not work in Argentina”, says chief Justice
The head of Argentina’s Supreme Court Ricardo Lorenzetti played down the possibility of a parliamentary system in the country because it would represent an “upturn of 180 degrees”, besides there is no clear initiative to reform the constitution.
Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with former IRA commander McGuinness
Britain's Queen Elizabeth shook the hand of former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander Martin McGuinness for the first time on Wednesday, drawing a line under a conflict that cost the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians, including that of her cousin.
Uruguay’s fiscal performance exposed to “political limitations”, says S&P report
Risk rating agency Standard & Poor’s praised Uruguay’s fiscal moderation in the last eight years since the budget’s fiscal deficit has been below 2% of GDP but criticized the “political limitations” which impede the achievement of a better performance.
Paraguay accuses Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay of a new “Triple Alliance”
The new Paraguayan government claimed before the Organization of American States, OAS, that Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay are again involved in a “Triple Alliance” to have the country ousted from the inter-American organization as is happening with Mercosur and Unasur.
Falkland Oil & Gas confirms Italian/French partner for drilling in South Atlantic
London AIM listed Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL) said Italian utility Edison International Spa was its new partner, bringing in a large, non-British company to help it look for hydrocarbons in the Falkland Islands.
Italian treasury to the rescue of the world’s oldest bank, Monte dei Pachi
Italy offered up to 2 billion Euros on Tuesday to plug a capital gap in the bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the second time in three years the cash-strapped state has had to bail out the world's oldest bank.
Venezuela on the campaign trail: “President Chavez, only second to God”
Political ads exalting Venezuela's populist President Hugo Chávez as second only to God have offended opponents and added further controversy to an already spicy presidential election campaign.
