Brazilian President Lula launched “Brazil is Calling You” campaign in Johannesburg, following South Africa officially handing over the keys to Brazil as the next host nation of the FIFA World Cup.
Brazilian president Lula da Silva confirmed Friday he will not be present at the South Africa World Cup final on Sunday because he has urgent work in the northeast of the country ravaged by floods that has left tens dead and thousands homeless.
The US economy is recovering after the global economic crisis, but consumers and financial institutions remain cautious as weak housing markets, high unemployment, and risks in Europe remain a concern, the IMF staff said in a press conference that followed its annual review of the world’s largest economy.
Colombian-French politician Ingrid Betancourt, who spent six years as a rebel hostage before being rescued, has sued the Colombian state over her kidnapping, sparking outrage from the government that freed her.
Hospitals throughout Chile are converting many of their operating rooms into centres for acute respiratory infections, in an effort to cope with the expected dramatic increase of flu-related problems caused by the recent cold weather and storms.
Argentina’s international reserves once again exceeded the 50 billion US dollars mark, boosted by an intervention to the Central Bank by the market in a record purchase of 262 million USD.
Argentina high school students are enjoying four comic strips, part of the official program, which satirizes the turbulent relation of the country with the IMF, presenting one of the works under the attractive name of “An intruder in the family”.
Cuban president Raul Castro criticized the attitudes of national and provincial leaders who he said “lacked the moral courage to admit their shortcomings”. The remarks follow on an article from the official newspaper Granma referred to the still non concluded rehabilitation of Santiago de Cuba’s aqueduct, which Raul Castro said reveals “the lack of planning to carry out effective work that is every Cuban’s duty to the community and the revolution”.
Montevideo’s first woman and Communist elected mayor, Ana Olivera took office on Friday promising to streamline the overweight administration of Uruguay’s capital and in six months, a spic-and-span city.