Politics

• Thursday, February 4th 2010 - 14:07 UTC

  Brazil’s best known writer against Blair as Olympics advisor

  

  Brazil's best-known writer, Paulo Coelho, is making it clear he doesn't want Britain's former Prime Minister Tony Blair involved in planning for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

• Wednesday, February 3rd 2010 - 13:52 UTC

  Kirchner loyalist appointed new Central bank president

  

  Mercedes Marcó Del Pont a long time ally of the Kirchners and until now head of the state-owned development bank, is known to support limited autonomy for the institution she's taking over. Her appointment closes a standoff over whether the government can overrule the central bank and tap international reserves.

• Wednesday, February 3rd 2010 - 12:35 UTC

  Kirchner admits 2 million USD operation for the purchase of a hotel

  

  Former president Néstor Kirchner admitted that his 2 million US dollars purchase, taken place in October 2008, before the outbreak of the global financial crisis, was made to acquire a percentage of stock for a hotel located in El Calafate, Patagonia.

• Wednesday, February 3rd 2010 - 12:25 UTC

  Renowned scientists winners of the prestigious Wolf Prizes

  

  Seven renowned scientists are the winners of the prestigious Wolf Prizes. The 100,000 US dollar prizes, which will be presented in May by Israeli President Shimon Peres during a special Knesset session, were announced Monday in Jerusalem by Israeli Minister of Education and Wolf Foundation Council Chair Gideon Sa'ar.

• Wednesday, February 3rd 2010 - 12:23 UTC

  Chavez former closest loyalists call for his resignation

  

  A group of one-time loyalists and close advisors of Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez called on him to resign saying that after eleven years in power he had lost “the legitimacy and capacity to govern”.

• Wednesday, February 3rd 2010 - 12:10 UTC

  Australian Central bank takes a pause: leaves rates unchanged at 3.75%

  

  Australia's central bank Tuesday left interest rates on hold at 3.75%, surprising analysts by ending a sequence of three consecutive rises, but hinted at further hikes to come.

• Wednesday, February 3rd 2010 - 12:02 UTC

  Washington praises political steps taken by new Honduran administration

  

  The new Honduras government is “one step” toward the country’s return to the Organization of American States and recovery of international credit lost during the seven month coup, said the US top diplomat to Latin America.

• Wednesday, February 3rd 2010 - 11:55 UTC

  Montevideo seems prepared to vote for a Communist Mayor next May

  

  Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital will most probably have as of next July a Communist Mayor with the support from the political machinery that has dominated undisputedly the city’s politics for the last two decades.

• Wednesday, February 3rd 2010 - 09:57 UTC

  OECD recommends Yuan appreciation to cut China’s dependence on exports

  

  The Yuan needs to appreciate to reduce China's dependence on exports for growth, says the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD argues that more exchange rate flexibility and targeting inflation would help economic stability in China.

• Wednesday, February 3rd 2010 - 09:46 UTC

  Ecuador hosts Unasur meeting in support of reconstructing Haiti

  

  Six presidents will be participating in the coming Union of South American Nations, Unasur, extraordinary meeting to he hosted by Ecuador next week and which will address mainly how to better coordinate relief efforts for earthquake devastated Haiti.