Stories for August 18th 2010
Chile’s investments abroad amount to 54 billion USD, mostly Latinamerica
Chile's investment abroad amounted to about 54.2 billion US dollars between 1990 and June 2010, distributed among more than 70 countries from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Oceania and Europe, according to a report released Monday by the General Directorate of International Economic Relations (DIRECON).
Swiss win the “gruyere-war” certification over French cheese producers
French gruyere producers have given up trying to win the coveted appellation d'origine controlée (AOC) certification, ceding the official label to the Swiss. They had been planning to take the matter to the European Commission, but decided against the risk: if their demand for the label had been rejected, they would have lost the right to call their cheese gruyere at all.
HMS Gloucester sets sail for the Falklands next Friday
A Royal Navy destroyer will set sail for the Falkland Islands from Portsmouth to maintain Britain's interests in the South Atlantic, reports Royal Navy News.
Australian PM wants to cut ties with British monarchy and establish a republic
Australia should drop its ties to the British monarchy when the Queen’s reign ends, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said this week in the midst of national election campaigning.
Bank of England warns about high inflation; rate won’t drop to 2% until mid 2012
The Governor of the Bank of England warned of the dangers of ‘destructive’ high inflation after admitting his surprise that the rise in the UK cost of living continues to overshoot targets, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
Printed media also victim of Venezuelan rampant crime
A judge in Venezuela has ruled that all printed news media cannot publish violent, bloody or grotesque photographs for the next 30 days because the pictures can cause psychological and moral harm to children.
Argentine Catholic Church reiterates “concern” with insecurity increase
The Catholic Church again expressed “concern” about the increase in crime and insecurity during the opening of the 156th Episcopate Permanent Committee Summit presided by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.
Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff closer to winning in the first round
Brazilian presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff widened her lead to 11 percentage points over opposition candidate Jose Serra, putting her in position to win in the first round of the October election, according to an Ibope poll published by the TV Globo network.
Brazilian journalists challenge law which forbids satirizing candidates
An election law from the era of Brazil's dictatorship past which forbids making fun of candidates has caused concern ahead of the countries October 3 presidential election and a possible run-off at the end of October.
Military exercise to defend the Panama Canal brings together 18 countries
More than 2,000 civilian and military personnel from 18 countries began a 12-day exercise in Panama City Tuesday to train in a joint, multinational effort to defend the Panama Canal.