Stories for June 2015

Thursday, June 11th 2015 - 08:37 UTC
Cuban novelist receives highest award of the Spanish language

The Princess of Asturias Award for Literature has gone to the Cuban novelist and journalist Leonardo Padura. There were 27 nominations from around the world for the prestigious award which has been won in the past by people of the stature of writer John Banville, Leonard Cohen and dramatist Arthur Miller.
Thursday, June 11th 2015 - 04:13 UTC
Timerman waters down Mercosur/EU agreement expectations

Argentine Foreign minister Hector Timerman affirmed that a trade deal would not be signed between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) in the second summit of the Community of Latin American States (CELAC) and the European body, which is taking place in the Belgian city of Brussels.
Thursday, June 11th 2015 - 04:05 UTC
Falklands triggers strong reply from Cameron when Timerman brings up the issue at Celac/EU summit

Foreign Minister Hector Timerman defended on Wednesday Argentina’s right to claim the Falkland/Malvinas Islands during the summit of the Community of Latin American States (CELAC) and the European body which is taking place in the Belgian city of Brussels. UK Prime Minister David Cameron responded by describing his comments as threatening, according to British sources.
Thursday, June 11th 2015 - 01:11 UTC
Battle of coins re-edits the Battle of Waterloo 200 years later

Belgium finally has managed to circumvent French resistance to the introduction of Euro coins to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Napoleon's defeat in Waterloo (18th June 1815). It has done so by invoking a little-known European Union rule that allows countries to issue Euro coins of their choice, provided they are in an irregular denomination.
Thursday, June 11th 2015 - 00:41 UTC
Mercosur ready to deliver its proposal for the trade agreement with EU

Mercosur is ready to deliver its proposal on goods, services and tariff reductions as part of the negotiations with the European Union for a trade and cooperation agreement, said Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday, following a meeting in Brussels with Charles Michel, Belgium's Prime minister.
Thursday, June 11th 2015 - 00:29 UTC
Bolivia's Morales does not support Mercosur/EU deal based on 'competitive' trade

Bolivian president Evo Morales said that if Mercosur insists in forging a trade agreement with the European Union, Bolivia will have to 'withdraw“, because ”we support solidarity and not competitive trade”. Morales is in Brussels attending the EU/Celac heads of government and state summit which takes off on Thursday.
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 22:22 UTC
Bank of England and Chancellor want tougher sentences for bankers' “culture of impunity”

Bank of England governor Mark Carney has called for longer prison sentences for bankers who break the law, in a speech attacking on ethics in the City. In his Mansion House speech Mr Carney said individuals acted with a “culture of impunity”. But, he warned: “The age of irresponsibility is over.”
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 22:10 UTC
BOTs tax havens played a key role in 'rampant, systemic' corruption in soccer

British overseas tax havens in the Caribbean played a key role in what US authorities have called “rampant, systemic and deep-rooted” corruption in the world of football, according to Britain’s Observer newspaper.
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 21:50 UTC
Colombia, Guatemala and China in ITUC list of world’s ten worst countries for workers

The Gulf States are among the world’s worst countries for workers’ rights, while workers under European austerity measures endured the starkest deterioration of standards, according to the 2015 Global Rights Index. The ITUC rights index ranks 141 countries against 97 internationally recognized indicators to assess where workers’ rights are best protected, in law and in practice.
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 21:39 UTC
FIFA postpones 2026 World Cup bidding process, announces Valcke

FIFA has postponed the 2026 World Cup bidding process amid the growing corruption scandal engulfing world football’s governing body. Secretary general Jerome Valcke told a news conference in Samara, Russia that the bidding process had been suspended.