Stories for June 18th 2010

Friday, June 18th 2010 - 20:39 UTC
Argentina does not rule out Brazil in the River Uruguay joint monitoring

Argentina’s Deputy Foreign Minister Victorio Taccetti did not rule out the possibility of Brazil integrating the joint environmental monitoring of the River Uruguay currently being arranged by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and her Uruguayan counterpart José Mujica.
Friday, June 18th 2010 - 20:32 UTC
HMS Manchester wren jailed for smuggling cocaine into the UK

A Royal Navy wren has been jailed for smuggling cocaine into the UK on board a warship which had been on counter-narcotics training and in the first half of 2009 was involved in South Atlantic-Falkland Islands’ deployment, BBC reports.
Friday, June 18th 2010 - 20:29 UTC
IMF chief Strauss-Khan strongly supports Spain’s reforms

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn praised Spain’s management of the current economic situation and said the budget deficit will shrink “rapidly” as the government’s overhaul of labor rules boosts economic growth.
Friday, June 18th 2010 - 19:28 UTC
World Bank calls for stronger Yuan to reduce inflation and spur domestic demand

World Bank has reiterated its view that the Chinese government should allow the Yuan to strengthen against other international currencies. The bank also forecasted the Chinese economy would grow 9.5% in 2010 and 8.5% in 2011.
Friday, June 18th 2010 - 19:25 UTC
Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation closer on political agreement in Paraguay

“There are better conditions, things are quieter now” to consider the incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur as full member said Paraguayan cabinet chief Miguel Lopez Perito, following a political agreement in Congress with one of the main opposition parties.
Friday, June 18th 2010 - 05:54 UTC
Mujica also wants Brazil in the joint monitoring of the River Uruguay

President Jose Mujica said the Wednesday night decision by Argentine activists to lift the (four year) blockade on a bridge leading to Uruguay was ‘our team’s fourth goal’ (in reference to that afternoon’s 3-0 victory over South Africa at the World Cup).
Friday, June 18th 2010 - 05:46 UTC
What went wrong with the Euro? It was like some kind of sleeping pill

EU president Herman Van Rompuy blamed the past strength of the European single currency for making the Euro zone unaware of its fiscal problems, in an interview with the Financial Times.
Friday, June 18th 2010 - 05:43 UTC
Venezuela’s CITGO offering to pay 12% for a 7 year bond

US based CITGO Petroleum Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), is coming to market with a 7 year bond and offering to pay 11.75% to 12% on the debt.
Friday, June 18th 2010 - 04:43 UTC
Spanish leader advices Cameron to act swiftly and fast with budget cuts

Spanish president Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero recommended British PM David Cameron to implement all economic reforms “swiftly, with no delay” and the widest ranging possible.
Friday, June 18th 2010 - 04:31 UTC
Cuba facing dramatic power shortage calls for ‘energy-saving’

Cuban Vice President Ramiro Valdes issued a call to “step up” energy-saving measures on the island in the face of the increase in electricity use in recent months, official Communist Party daily Granma said Thursday.