International

Friday, June 5th 2015 - 03:28 UTC
FAO conference to recognize efforts in lowering hunger and elect Director General

Some 130 ministers, 12 heads of state or government, including presidents from Argentina and Chile, Cristina Fernandez and Michelle Bachelet, plus numerous other high-level government representatives will be converging on Rome this week for the 39th session of FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) governing Conference (6-13 June).
Thursday, June 4th 2015 - 08:17 UTC
Whistleblower Blazer admitted receiving bribes for hosts of 1998 and 2010 World Cups

Former FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer told a U.S. federal judge that he and others on the governing body's ruling panel agreed to receive bribes in the votes for the hosts of the 1998 and 2010 World Cups.
Wednesday, June 3rd 2015 - 02:06 UTC
Blatter resigns but says will remain in control until successor's election

Sepp Blatter, who four days ago was re-elected for a fifth four-year term as president of FIFA, the world football's governing body announced on Tuesday in Zurich that he would resign his position and lay down his mandate at an extraordinary elective congress to be held later in the year.
Tuesday, June 2nd 2015 - 06:01 UTC
Canadian tobacco companies ordered to pay 12bn dollars for failing to warn health risks

A Canadian court has ordered three tobacco companies to pay 15.5bn Canadian dollars ($12bn), the largest award for damages in the country's history. The plaintiffs were Quebec smokers who said the firms failed to warn them of health risks associated with smoking.
Tuesday, June 2nd 2015 - 05:18 UTC
FIFA scandal points to Valcke, as 'high ranking official' in US$ 10m transfer

The ongoing FIFA scandal has prompted FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke to skip the opening news conference of the Women’s World Cup. As of Sunday evening, Valcke had been slated to attend Thursday’s event in Vancouver along with Canadian and other officials. But that changed Monday afternoon.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:32 UTC
Cabello denies cocaine trafficking and will file complaints against media reports in Spain and US

Venezuelan parliament chief Diosdado Cabello said in an interview on Sunday that he plans to file lawsuits in Spain and the United States following media reports that link him and other top officials to cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:20 UTC
South Africa admits paying 10m dollars, but it was not a bribe “to secure 2010 World Cup”

South Africa did pay 10m dollars to a football body led by Jack Warner, a figure at the centre of FIFA corruption allegations, local media say. Danny Jordaan, head of South Africa's FA, is quoted as confirming that the amount was deducted from a FIFA payment to the country in 2008.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:09 UTC
Blatter a victim of conspiracy from “behind scenes”, claims daughter Corinne

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is the victim of a conspiracy from “behind the scenes”, daughter Corinne Blatter told the BBC amid the corruption crisis gripping world football. Her comments come as key FIFA officials face a string of bribery charges. Blatter, who has been re-elected as Fifa president, has not been implicated but faces calls to stand down.
Monday, June 1st 2015 - 07:06 UTC
South American relief: FIFA leaves allocation of World Cup slots unchanged

Good news for South America: FIFA will not make any changes to the allocation of World Cup slots among the six continents for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Russia and Qatar, president Sepp Blatter said during the first meeting of the new Executive Committee in Zurich.
Saturday, May 30th 2015 - 10:03 UTC
Mercosur/EU officials will assess trade talks in Brussels on 11 June

Mercosur foreign ministers will be meeting in June with the European Union Trade Commissionaire Cecilia Malmstrom to 'assess' the current negotiations for a comprehensive trade and cooperation agreement. The meeting in Brussels will be on the sidelines of the EU-Celac (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit, the first at ministerial level since January 2013