Politics

• Friday, January 8th 2016 - 11:32 UTC

  Chavez images and cult, new arena of dispute between Maduro and opposition

  

  Venezuela's government upped the ante Thursday against the new opposition-led Congress with a protest against the removal of images of venerated late populist leader Hugo Chavez and a legal appeal against the swearing-in of three legislators.

• Friday, January 8th 2016 - 11:06 UTC

  Argentina and Uruguay will bid to jointly host 2030 World Cup

  

  Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez and Argentine counterpart Mauricio Macri agreed on Thursday that their countries will present a joint bid to host the World Cup in 2030, a century after Uruguay was the site of the first tournament.

• Friday, January 8th 2016 - 08:06 UTC

  Macri and Vazquez marked the beginning of a new chapter in bilateral relations

  

  Uruguay and Argentina presidents Tabare Vazquez and Mauricio Macri made on Thursday several announcements referred to bilateral issues indicating relations between the two neighboring countries have effectively improved following years of tension and misunderstandings with the governments of Nestor Kirchner and Cristina Fernandez.

• Thursday, January 7th 2016 - 09:27 UTC

  Uruguay's 2016 Antarctic campaign takes off; ship to deliver 250 tons of fuel and 40 tons of supplies

  

  Uruguayan navy rescue vessel ROU 26 “Vanguardia” left this week from Montevideo for Antarctica loaded with fuel and provisions for the country's scientific base “General Artigas” at King George Island.

• Thursday, January 7th 2016 - 09:19 UTC

  Rockhopper faces challenge with offshore exploration project in Italy

  

  Rockhopper Exploration PLC on Wednesday was forced back to the drawing board to review its Ombrina Mare project offshore Italy after the country's parliament reintroduced restrictions on activity near the coast. The news could be a blow to the company, which is set to merge with Falkland Oil & Gas Ltd, after Falkland Oil shareholders approved the deal on Tuesday.

• Thursday, January 7th 2016 - 08:55 UTC

  UK Labour split turns into open crevasse following Corbyn's 'revenge reshuffle'

  

  British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tried to assert some authority over the Labour Party this week but his “revenge reshuffle” appeared only to worsen divisions between moderates and his leftist inner circle. Four months into the hard left veteran's tenure following his surprise leadership election win, Corbyn sacked two frontbench moderates for alleged disloyalty and demoted his defence spokeswoman with one commentator calling the situation inside the party “nuts”.

• Thursday, January 7th 2016 - 08:30 UTC

  Spain calls for dialogue on Gibraltar and Falklands; UK reiterates support for self determination

  

  The United Kingdom has reiterated that the sovereignty of Gibraltar is not a matter for discussion or negotiation with Spain. This follows a call by the Spanish Foreign Ministry for a resumption of bilateral dialogue with the UK over Gibraltar.

• Thursday, January 7th 2016 - 08:17 UTC

  Macri will become first Argentine president to attend Davos forum in twelve years

  

  For the first time in twelve years and Argentine president will be attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that runs between January 20-23. President Mauricio Macri will be present together with ally Sergio Massa, leader of dissident Peronist Renewall Front, in order to attract investment.

• Thursday, January 7th 2016 - 08:08 UTC

  Rousseff's unaccomplished promise of no recession or retrocession

  

  On 2 February 2015, Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff sent the Executive message to Congress with her government's plan and promising she would not promote “recession or retrocession.” However eleven months later, Brazil is undergoing full recession and faces retrocession in several areas, having been downgraded by two credit risk agencies.

• Thursday, January 7th 2016 - 07:43 UTC

  Vazquez receives Macri: “good relations with Argentina, top priority for Uruguay”

  

  Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez will host on Thursday his Argentine peer Mauricio Macri to address several controversial issues from the bilateral agenda which are pending from the twelve years of the Kirchner couple. According to Uruguayan sources they include trade, River Plate channels and navigation, ports and pulp mills among other issues.