Politics

Friday, June 11th 2010 - 06:21 UTC
World Cup in South Africa Bypassed ‘Plan B’

The following piece was written by Pravin Gordhan, South African Minister of Finance and published in Bloomberg Business Week.<br />
The 2010 World Cup soccer tournament that kicks off Friday represents much more than just a sporting spectacular for South Africa.
Friday, June 11th 2010 - 06:20 UTC
Venezuela suspends power rationing in the eve of the World Cup

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez suspended a national electricity rationing plan, saying that the grid had been strengthened by new investments in thermoelectric plants and heavy rains that filled up reservoirs. He also wants Venezuelans to watch the World Cup in South Africa.
Friday, June 11th 2010 - 06:06 UTC
Argentina reaffirms “exclusive authority” over all Falklands’ hydrocarbons activities

Argentina reaffirmed “exclusive authority” over all hydrocarbons activities in the Islas Malvinas territory and maritime spaces in a strong release to commemorate June 10th, Day of Argentina’s Sovereignty Rights over Malvinas.
Friday, June 11th 2010 - 00:37 UTC
Bank of England leaves rates and quantitative easing funds unchanged

UK interest rates have been kept on hold at a record low of 0.5% for the 15th month in a row. The Bank of England also decided on Thursday not to inject any more money into the UK economy under its policy of quantitative easing (QE).
Friday, June 11th 2010 - 00:04 UTC
Taiana announces in Shanghai Cristina’s official visit to China next July

Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is scheduled to make an official visit to China and meet with President Hu Jintao next July, announced Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana during his visit to the Argentine pavilion in the Shanghai World Expo.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 23:57 UTC
Argentina ratifies adhesion to Unasur following unanimous vote in Congress

Argentina ratified this week the adhesion to the South American Nations Union (Unasur) Treaty, following a unanimous vote in the Lower House of Congress. The Senate had already approved the initiative.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 22:25 UTC
Lady Di strapless taffeta dress purchased by Chile’s fashion museum

The Chilean Museum de la Moda (Fashion) purchased a strapless taffeta dress that Princess Diana wore to one of her first official engagements for more than four times the initial price.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 22:18 UTC
Book on Chavez in prison, “I saw him cry”, triggers controversy

A Venezuelan historian and academic presented the book ‘I saw him cry’ in which he affirms that President Hugo Chavez was crying, fearful and pleading to be sent to Cuba on April 11, 2002 during the coup that had him out of office for several days. He also insists there was no plan to have Chavez shot by a firing squad as the ‘official version” of events has since turned into epic days.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 18:28 UTC
Lula da Silva says “espionage plot” on opposition candidate is a ‘set up’

Brazilian president Lula da Silva talked for the first time about the alleged espionage plot against opposition presidential candidate Jose Serra and described the whole operation as an ‘absurd set up’ with electoral purposes.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 18:22 UTC
Chile sues banks that cooperated in hiding Pinochet ill-gotten fortune

The widow of (deceased) former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, Lucia Hiriart; the dictator’s private secretary, Monica Ananias; and his executor, Oscar Aitken, were summoned this week to a Santiago criminal court pursuant to a warrant from the Southern District Court of Florida, United States.