Stories for May 2011

Tuesday, May 24th 2011 - 19:39 UTC
France says China supports Lagarde as next IMF chief given Euro zone situation

China would support Finance Minister Christine Lagarde as the next IMF chief the French government said backing which would put her firmly in pole position to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Tuesday, May 24th 2011 - 19:37 UTC
Labour MP Dobbin new chairman of All Party Gibraltar Group

British Labour MP Jim Dobbin is the new chairman of the All Party Gibraltar Group in the Commons. Mr Dobbin, elected at a meeting of the group Monday, takes on the position held by Eleanor Laing MP who resigned to take on the role of the Coalition Government’s special Gibraltar envoy with the MOD.
Tuesday, May 24th 2011 - 19:29 UTC
Royal 41-gun salute for the US President Obama at Buckingham Palace

US President Barack Obama received a royal 41-gun salute at Buckingham Palace Tuesday to begin a two-day state visit aimed at ensuring the United States and Britain keep the “special” in their relationship.
Tuesday, May 24th 2011 - 18:59 UTC
Former president Allende’s family petitioning return of the AK47, a gift from Fidel Castro

The family of Chile’s former president, Salvador Allende, petitioned for the rifle AK-47 used on his alleged suicide to be found. Allende is supposed to have committed suicide in the midst of a violent army coup led by general Pinochet in September 1973.
Tuesday, May 24th 2011 - 18:55 UTC
Rousseff administration first scandal takes off in Congress and with prosecutors

Brazil's young government faces its first scandal involving presidential chief of staff Antonio Palocci who is under fire for revelations that, while in Congress between 2006 and 2010, his net worth multiplied 20 times.
Tuesday, May 24th 2011 - 18:46 UTC
US imposes sanctions on Venezuela’s PDVSA for engaging in trade with Iran

United States announced new sanctions on Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA and six other smaller oil and shipping companies for engaging in trade with Iran in violation of a US ban.
Tuesday, May 24th 2011 - 06:43 UTC
Chile’s ENAP successfully drills natural gas well in Tierra del Fuego

Chile’ oil and gas company ENAP announced Monday the discovery of natural gas at a recently drilled well in the Arenal block to the north-west of Espora Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego.
Tuesday, May 24th 2011 - 06:39 UTC
Korean conglomerate LGI secures oil block in southern Chile

GeoPark oil and gas company with operations in Latin America announced in a joint release the definitive sale of oil and gas exploration and production blocks in the south of Chile to the Korean conglomerate LG International Corporation.
Tuesday, May 24th 2011 - 06:30 UTC
Massive demonstrations in Chile to protest Piñera’s annual speech to Congress

Citizens protested on the streets of 27 Chilean cities on Saturday. The demonstrations were strategically planned to coincide with President Sebastián Piñera’s annual May 21 speech. In many areas, peaceful demonstrations morphed into violent riots.
Tuesday, May 24th 2011 - 06:08 UTC
Chile and Argentina probe alleged bribe case involving Lan and President Piñera

Chilean prosecutors have opened an investigation into an alleged bribe paid to a former Argentine minister by Chile’s flag carrier Lan sometime in 2006/2007 to help with the opening of operations in Argentina. At the time Chilean president Sebastián Piñera was the main share holder of the airline.