Stories for 13th 2015

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.
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 21:16 UTC
Mercosur and Unasur member Venezuela bullying neighboring Guyana

Mercosur and Unasur member Venezuela is again bullying neighboring Guyana by issuing a presidential decree claiming more than two-thirds of the former British colony territory including the maritime area where ExxonMobil recently found a significant oil deposit.
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 06:53 UTC
Uruguay says Brazil and Paraguay are ready to sign trade accord with Europe

Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez said that Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay are ready to sign the long delayed trade and cooperation agreement between Mercosur and the European Union. Such an agreement has become one of the cornerstones of Vazquez presidency faced with falling exports and limited markets.
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 06:44 UTC
“Football is a game, but is also a massive business” and people want it to operate with integrity

President Barack Obama weighed in on the deepening corruption scandal involving world soccer's governing body, saying it was essential that the sport's integrity be ensured.
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 06:39 UTC
Argentine businessman indicted by US in FIFA corruption case, turns in Italy

Of the 14 people indicted by the United States in the FIFA corruption case, five members are businessmen that worked for various sports marketing and consulting companies that dealt extensively with the world's football organization.
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 06:28 UTC
FIFA admits 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosts could change because of the ongoing investigation

Head of FIFA’s audit and compliance committee says World Cup hosts could change as a result of ongoing investigation. Domenico Scala says if any evidence of wrongdoing is found by the ongoing criminal investigations into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, the rights to host the tournament could be stripped.
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 06:16 UTC
Patagonia Azul in Chubut becomes Biosphere reserve; holds 40% of world's Magellan penguins

The International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) added this week twenty 20 new sites (including two in Latina America) to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, bringing their total number to 651 sites, including 15 trans-boundary sites, in 120 countries.
Wednesday, June 10th 2015 - 06:04 UTC
Brazil launches ambitious $64bn infrastructure package to prop the economy

Brazil announced a $64 billion infrastructure spending package on Tuesday, hoping to revive its flagging economy with investment in highways, railroads, ports and airports. Businesses and analysts have long pointed to overburdened infrastructure as a drag on the world's seventh-largest economy, which pays high prices to ship the raw materials it exports.