Politics

Friday, January 16th 2015 - 05:15 UTC
Chile votes to eliminate the Pinochet electoral system, 25 years later

Chile's Senate has voted to end a dictatorship-era electoral system that has squeezed out independent candidates and guaranteed an outsized presence in Congress for the centre-right and conservative blocs.
Friday, January 16th 2015 - 04:58 UTC
US makes it easier for Americans to travel and make business in Cuba

The United States government on Friday will begin making it easier for Americans to travel to Cuba than it has been for more than half a century, opening the door to a new era of contact between neighbors that have been estranged longer than most of their citizens have been alive.
Thursday, January 15th 2015 - 08:45 UTC
Guyana dismisses warning of Commonwealth action for suspending Parliament

Guyana's ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) dismissed a warning from Britain that Guyana risks being referred to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group after the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country suspended Parliament in November last year.
Thursday, January 15th 2015 - 05:42 UTC
Argentine government bluntly rejects 'Iran cover up' accusation as 'nonsense'

Argentina's Presidency Secretary General Anibal Fernandez bluntly rejected the accusations by the prosecutor in the AMIA bombing probe against president Cristina Fernández, foreign minister Hector Timerman and other Kirchnerite officials for allegedly “covering up” Iranian citizens in the investigation.
Thursday, January 15th 2015 - 05:32 UTC
Argentine president accused of 'covering up' Iran's role in Buenos Aires deadly attack

An Argentine federal special prosecutor on Wednesday accused President Cristina Fernandez of seeking to cover up the involvement of Iran in a 1994 terrorist attack on a Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires that claimed 85 lives and 300 injured.
Wednesday, January 14th 2015 - 22:46 UTC
Chinese jet fighters, an option to re-equip the Argentine Air Force

China has emerged as a possible supplier of jet fighters to help modernize the Argentine Air Force, depleted since the 1982 Falklands' war, according to reports from Defense News. In effect the FC-1/JF-17’s, 'Thunder' operational with the Pakistani air force and proven in combat could be a suitable, accessible option for the Argentines after the Spanish, French, Israeli offers seem to have fallen through.
Wednesday, January 14th 2015 - 09:31 UTC
World Bank cuts 2015 global growth forecast; however lower oil prices will delay rate hikes

The World Bank on Tuesday cut its global growth forecast for 2015 and lowered the estimate for 2014, as several headwinds mitigate the effects of an improving U. S. economy and plunging oil prices.
Wednesday, January 14th 2015 - 09:19 UTC
Brazil anticipates 'program of targeted tax increases' and 'fare realism' for power and fuel

Brazil's finance minister said on Tuesday a program of targeted tax increases was designed with the intention to not harm fragile growth in Latin America's largest economy. Joaquim Levy also pledged 'fare realism' for electricity bills and fuel prices based on 'business reasons'.
Wednesday, January 14th 2015 - 07:30 UTC
Paris killings deepen Islam controversy in Germany with rallies in several cities

Thousands of Germans turned out for an anti-Islam rally on Monday in Dresden, where some protesters wore black ribbons to show their solidarity with the 17 victims of last week’s terror attacks in Paris.
Wednesday, January 14th 2015 - 06:55 UTC
Philanthropist who funded recovery of Falklands' SS Great Britain had died

Sir Jack Hayward, the man instrumental in bringing the SS Great Britain back to Bristol, has died. The 91-year-old multi-millionaire helped fund the project to return Brunel's ship from the Falkland Islands in 1970, a journey of 8,000 miles. Known as 'Union Jack' for his patriotism, the businessman was a former owner of Wolverhampton Wanderers.