The head of Mexico’s central bank says Latin American countries deserve greater representation at the International Monetary Fund. Agustin Carstens made the comments Wednesday in Brazil, where he is seeking support for his bid to become the next managing director of the IMF. Carstens met with Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega in Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, […]
Brazil Clears Amazon Dam for Construction
Posted June 1st, 2011 at 4:10 pm (UTC-5)
Brazil has approved the construction of a massive hydroelectric dam in the Amazon rain forest — a project that has sparked criticism from environmentalists, indigenous activists and celebrities. Brazil’s environment agency Ibama issued the building license for the $11 billion dollar Belo Monte dam project on Wednesday. The dam is designed to produce about 11,000 […]
Honduras Readmitted to OAS
Posted June 1st, 2011 at 3:55 pm (UTC-5)
The Organization of American States has voted to readmit Honduras following an almost two-year suspension that followed the ouster of the country’s then-president, Manuel Zelaya, in a June 2009 coup. The Washington-based organization Wednesday lifted the suspension after a 32-1 vote in which only Ecuador opposed the move. The vote follows an agreement last month […]
Oil Prices Plunge on Economic Data
Posted June 1st, 2011 at 3:45 pm (UTC-5)
Here are the prices of some key commodities traded in New York on Wednesday: The price of crude oil slid $2.41 to close at $100.29 a barrel after a series of reports on jobs and manufacturing sparked concerns that the U.S. economic recovery may be starting to stagnate. Coffee prices fell almost 9 cents to […]
Auto Sales Shift into Reverse
Posted June 1st, 2011 at 3:35 pm (UTC-5)
Some of the world’s biggest automakers are blaming the Japanese tsunami, higher gasoline prices and jittery consumers for sending new vehicle sales into reverse. Japanese automaker Toyota took the biggest hit, reporting a 28 percent drop in May sales compared to the same time last year. The world’s largest car company experience severe production delays […]
Obama, House Republicans Have ‘Productive’ Meeting on Debt
Posted June 1st, 2011 at 3:25 pm (UTC-5)
The White House says President Barack Obama has had a “productive” meeting with Republicans on reducing the country’s debt. Spokesman Jay Carney said the talks Wednesday with members of the House Republican Conference were an opportunity for Mr. Obama to hear their side and for them to hear from him. Carney said the large meeting […]
Syrian Government Opponents Discuss Regime Change
Posted June 1st, 2011 at 3:15 pm (UTC-5)
Syrian opposition leaders meeting in Turkey have rejected their government’s offer of a general amnesty and say they will continue to push for a regime change. More than 300 dissidents are attending a conference in the Turkish town of Antalya on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Syrian government freed hundreds of political prisoners on Wednesday, a day […]
Germany Reports Another Bacteria Death, Cause Still a Mystery
Posted June 1st, 2011 at 3:15 pm (UTC-5)
German officials say another person has died from a mysterious killer bacteria, raising the death toll in Europe to 17, all but one in Germany. Local authorities reported Wednesday that an 84-year-old woman died on Sunday from the food-borne bacterial outbreak, which has sickened more than 1,500 people in nine European countries since mid-May. Germany […]
Pakistan’s Spy Agency Denies Involvement in Journalist’s Death
Posted June 1st, 2011 at 2:45 pm (UTC-5)
Pakistan’s main intelligence agency is rejecting allegations of involvement in the killing of a Pakistani journalist who was investigating possible links between the military and extremists. Syed Saleem Shahzad was buried in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on Wednesday, as hundreds of relatives, journalists and local politicians looked on. Shahzad’s body was found about […]
UN Panel: Libyan Forces and Opposition Committed War Crimes
Posted June 1st, 2011 at 2:45 pm (UTC-5)
A U.N. panel investigating the conflict in Libya says forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and opposition forces in the country have committed war crimes. The report, published Wednesday by three U.N.-appointed experts, says the violations committed by pro-Gadhafi forces were severe enough to also constitute crimes against humanity. They said violations by opposition […]
