Stories for June 24th 2006

Saturday, June 24th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Kirchner's populist pals criticized

A day after President Néstor Kirchner spoke up for the presidents of Bolivia and Venezuela in a joint press conference with the Spanish Primer Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Spanish press was not satisfied with the visiting head-of-state's words.

Saturday, June 24th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Varig, and 28.000 Brazilians overseas grounded

A bankruptcy judge annulled Friday the sale of Brazil flag carrier Varig airlines after a workers' group failed to make the first required payment. The decision threatens to leave thousands of Brazilians football fans stranded in Germany.

Saturday, June 24th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Garcia/Chavez rift widens and ties could be severed

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called Peruvian elected president Alan Garcia a United States “lap puppy” and put in doubt the outcome of the recent elections in Peru.

Saturday, June 24th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Morales accepts defeat and declares he's Catholic

Bolivian president Evo Morales said Friday he was Catholic and admitted praying regularly to ask favours from God and therefore will not eliminate religion classes in Bolivian government schools.

Saturday, June 24th 2006 - 21:00 UTC

Lula confirms re-election bid and leads 3 to 1 in polls

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced Saturday in Brasilia his re-election bid for the coming general election next October 1.