Stories for June 18th 2015

Thursday, June 18th 2015 - 07:08 UTC
Mercosur/EU hope 'for positive news in third quarter' despite members' domestic problems

The European Union also has difficulties in completing a draft proposal of goods and services to exchange with Mercosur in the search for a long delayed trade agreement between the two blocks, revealed Uruguayan vice-president Raul Sendic during a report to the Senate on his recent 10/11 June trip to Brussels for the Celac/EU summit. However in “the third quarter of the year there should be positive news”.
Thursday, June 18th 2015 - 06:58 UTC
Fed ready for interest rate hike, but precise timing depends on jobs and inflation

Citing an improving economy, the Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday it is most probably on track to raise historically low interest rates as early as September, but that rates are likely to climb more gradually than it previously
Thursday, June 18th 2015 - 06:40 UTC
Chilean striking teachers take to the streets; million students with no classes

Thousands of striking teachers have taken to the streets in the Chilean capital Santiago to protest against education reform plans. The peaceful rally held on Wednesday turned violent when clashes erupted between riot police and a group of protesters, which led to the arrest of a number of people.
Thursday, June 18th 2015 - 06:34 UTC
Punta Arenas rescues semi-submersible rig stranded in the port's muddy bottom

A semi-submersible rig of Chinese origin commissioned to Total and which grounded 200 meters from the coast in Punta Arenas following strong winds and tides that let it lose from its moorings in the port, has been rescued on the high tide. Apparently the huge vessel has not suffered major 'visible damages', reports La Prensa Austral.
Thursday, June 18th 2015 - 06:02 UTC
Falklands' makes its debut among Argentine fans in the America Cup

The America Copa (Cup) currently being played in Chile, and the region's national teams main football competition, has not been without incidents. The one that has attracted most headlines, so far, was the host's leading squad player, Arturo Vidal who went on public television to apologize for drunk driving after crashing his Ferrari.
Thursday, June 18th 2015 - 05:35 UTC
Argentine province makes it mandatory to sing a march dedicated to Malvinas Islands

The Argentine province of Salta has passed a law forcing people to sing a song at every public event declaring that the Falkland Islands belong to Argentina. The law will also require every state school in the province to sing the song, known as ”Lilian Guitián, alongside the national anthem.
Thursday, June 18th 2015 - 05:18 UTC
Chris Evans will replace Jeremy Clarkson as lead presenter of Top Gear

British TV and radio personality Chris Evans will replace Jeremy Clarkson as the lead presenter of an all-new Top Gear line-up, the BBC has announced. Evans said he was “thrilled” to get the job, describing the motoring show as his “favorite program of all time”.
Thursday, June 18th 2015 - 05:10 UTC
Nestle will destroy more than 50m dollars of Maggi noodles in India

Nestle says it will destroy more than $50m worth of its hugely popular Maggi noodles, following a ban imposed by India's food safety regulator following tests have found the instant noodles “unsafe and hazardous” and has accused Nestle of failing to comply with food safety laws.
Thursday, June 18th 2015 - 05:01 UTC
Switzerland pulling the noose: evidence of 53 FIFA suspicious banking reports

Swiss authorities say they have evidence of 53 suspicious FIFA-linked banking relations reported by Swiss banks. Under the Anti-Money-Laundering Framework of Switzerland, banks are required to report any suspicious activity that happens within their accounts. Some of the 53 suspicious reports are among 104 banking relations already known by the investigators.
Thursday, June 18th 2015 - 04:51 UTC
ITUC challenges football associations and sponsors to push for independent FIFA reform commission

The International Trade Unions Congress, ITUC is calling on national football associations to push for genuine reform of FIFA through the establishment of an independent commission, and not merely accept that FIFA can suddenly reform itself under a leadership which has failed to end corruption after years of multi-million dollar scandals