Stories for June 2010

Tuesday, June 22nd 2010 - 04:52 UTC
Risk rating agency says low risk of a Euro zone breakup; praises Stabilization Mechanism

Although the sovereign debt crisis has revealed weaknesses in several European Union countries, the risk of a Euro zone breakup is low over the shorter term, Fitch Ratings said on Monday.
Tuesday, June 22nd 2010 - 04:46 UTC
Vatican confirms relations with Cuba are “cordial and on a healthy course”

Vatican Foreign minister Archbishop Dominique Mamberti concluded an official and pastoral visit to Cuba Sunday saying relations between the Catholic Church and the Cuban governments are on a healthy course, reports the Catholic News Service.
Tuesday, June 22nd 2010 - 04:43 UTC
Petrobras plans to invest 224 billion USD and double production to 5.4 million bpd

Brazil's state-run oil company announced Monday it will invest 224 billion US dollars through 2014 and double production by 2020. About 95% of that will be invested in Brazil.
Monday, June 21st 2010 - 05:46 UTC
The downfall of the ‘loyal, orthodox’ Jorge Taiana

Suspicious deals with Venezuela, a ministry with different areas of influence, alleged leaks to the press, a close alignment with Washington and in spite of his submission, probably too ‘autonomous’ for the Kirchner couple’s taste seems to have condemned the orthodox Jorge Taiana as Argentina’s Foreign Affairs minister.
Monday, June 21st 2010 - 04:10 UTC
Falklands’ and decolonization debate, Timerman’s international debut

Argentina’s newly designated Minister of Foreign Affairs Hector Timerman will be making his international debut with the Falkland Islands debate, next Thursday/Friday at the United Nations Decolonization Committee, C24.
Monday, June 21st 2010 - 04:07 UTC
Santos calls for unity and promises to improve relations with neighbors

As anticipated Colombia’s Juan Manuel Santos won on Sunday the country’s presidential runoff by a landslide, persuading voters with a pledge to continue Alvaro Uribe’s policies, the most popular leader of the country in the last five decades.
Saturday, June 19th 2010 - 02:46 UTC
Brazil opens steel mill, largest private sector investment in 15 years

Brazilian President Lula da Silva, mining giant Vale Doce CEO Roger Agnelli and ThyssenKrupp CEO Ekkehard Schulz inaugurated on Friday Brazil's newest steel mill, Cia Siderurgica do Atlantico (CSA).
Saturday, June 19th 2010 - 02:11 UTC
BRIC emerging economies will enjoy agriculture boom, says UN-OECD report

The emerging economies of Brazil, India, China and Russia (BRIC) will enjoy an agricultural boom over the next decade as production stalls in Western Europe, a report says.
Saturday, June 19th 2010 - 02:09 UTC
UN calls on Venezuela to withdraw arrest warrant against head of media network

United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of expression called on Venezuela to withdraw the arrest warrant against the head of the opposition Globovision television network, declaring that it had no right to silence critics.
Saturday, June 19th 2010 - 00:24 UTC
Taiana resigns after “strong exchange” with Mrs. Kirchner; Timmerman replaces him

Argentine Foreign Affairs minister Jorge Taiana and a close ally of the ruling Kirchner couple since 2003, unexpectedly resigned Friday allegedly because of “lack of support and differences” in the implementation of the country foreign policy.