Stories for June 2011

Wednesday, June 1st 2011 - 10:33 UTC
The unstoppable march of the tobacco giants

By Emily Dugan - The following piece from The Independent on Sunday describes how in spite of the World NO tobacco Day (May 31) the industry ruthlessly exploits the developing world and makes huge profits even when smoking in the richer countries has been falling sustainedly.
Wednesday, June 1st 2011 - 09:33 UTC
Gibraltar: Major disaster in port

An oil storage tank exploded in the port of Gibraltar Tuesday afternoon around 3.30pm, just metres from where a cruise ship Independence of the Seas was berthed. Two people who were carrying out welding work on the tank were injured in the blast. One of them, a 40-year old Spanish national from La Linea, suffered serious, extensive and life threatening burns.
Wednesday, June 1st 2011 - 09:09 UTC
South Georgia ordinance gives new powers to protect unique natural environment

Tuesday afternoon on May 31st saw the signing of the Wild Life and Protected Areas Ordinance for the Government of the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI).
Wednesday, June 1st 2011 - 09:02 UTC
LAN will seek another partner to expand globally if merger with Brazil’s TAM falls

Chile's LAN Airlines will seek another partner or explore other options to expand internationally if a local antitrust tribunal rules against a planned merger with Brazil's TAM, according to an interview published by leading daily El Mercurio.
Wednesday, June 1st 2011 - 08:56 UTC
Grondona: the only time I asked for something was for the English to return our Malvinas Islands

Julio Grondona president of Argentina’s Football Association, AFA, and FIFA Vice-president strongly denied having been bribed to support Qatar World Cup bid in 2022 and said the only time he ever asked for something was when he told the English they could have his vote “if they returned what belongs to Argentina, the Malvinas Islands”.
Wednesday, June 1st 2011 - 08:53 UTC
Obama names businessman with impressive background new Commerce Secretary

John Bryson from Kohlberg-Kravis-Roberts & Co and with an impressive business background has been nominated by President Barack Obama as next US Secretary of Commerce. He replaces Gary Locke but still must be confirmed by Congress.
Wednesday, June 1st 2011 - 08:42 UTC
Bolivia tells Iranian Defence minister to leave and apologizes to Argentina

The Bolivian Government asked Iranian Defence Minister Ahmad Vahídi, accused by Argentina of masterminding the Buenos Aires AMIA terrorist attack in 1994, to leave the country after an Argentine attorney asked Interpol to arrest him, Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman said.
Wednesday, June 1st 2011 - 08:37 UTC
Moody’s joins S&P and lifts Colombia’ credit rating to investment grade

Colombia’s credit rating was raised to investment grade by Moody’s Investors Service, matching a move by Standard & Poor’s two months earlier, as economic growth accelerates and the threat posed by guerrilla groups and organized crime recedes.
Wednesday, June 1st 2011 - 08:34 UTC
Mix of Belgian sacrifices and banks rolling over expiring bonds, proposal for Greece

European Union’s top economic official said a solution to keeping Greece solvent is combining bold deficit cuts reminiscent of Belgian sacrifices in the 1990s and willingness by lenders to roll over expiring bonds, adapting what was done in Eastern Europe two years ago.