Stories for June 8th 2015

Monday, June 8th 2015 - 13:00 UTC
China imports dropped 17.6% during May, and exports 2.5%

Exports in the world's second largest economy, China, fell for a third consecutive month in May, highlighting slowing demand in the country. Sales abroad fell 2.5% from a year ago in dollar denominated terms, and 2.8% in Yuan denominated figures.
Monday, June 8th 2015 - 09:11 UTC
Uruguay's vice-president travels to Brussels to advance Mercosur/EU trade talks

Uruguay's vice-president Raúl Sendic and Foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa will be attending this week's summit of EU and Celac leaders scheduled in Brussels, which will also address in the sidelines, current EU/Mercosur negotiations for a wide ranging trade agreement.
Monday, June 8th 2015 - 08:51 UTC
Obama presses Cameron on defense expenditure and remaining in the EU

Barack Obama has pressed David Cameron to maintain Britain's commitment to meeting the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defense. In talks at the G7 summit in Germany, the US President also said he was “looking forward” to Britain remaining in the European Union.
Monday, June 8th 2015 - 08:43 UTC
Political financing scandal KO for another Chilean minister

The political financing scandal cost the job of another Chilean minister on Sunday when Jorge Insunza, recently named as responsible for relations with the Congress was forced to resign.
Monday, June 8th 2015 - 08:32 UTC
YPF strikes shale gas in Vaca Muerta; initial production 43.000 m3day

Argentina's government managed energy company YPF said on Sunday that it turned up a new promising shale gas deposit in its giant Vaca Muerta field in the south of the country.The find, in the Patagonian province of Neuquen, suggests there is likely much more gas in the vast but barely tapped Vaca Muerta field, YPF said.
Monday, June 8th 2015 - 08:25 UTC
“Argentine Malvinas question” support group has a branch in Saudi Arabia

Argentina is seeking the support of Saudi Arabia in its dispute with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands sovereignty. This was the appeal of the country's Ambassador Jaime Sergio Cerda during a seminar recently on the matter at his residence in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh, reports Arab News.
Monday, June 8th 2015 - 08:13 UTC
Mexico' industrial hub of Monterrey en route to give the political system a big shock

Mexico's ruling party has lost seats in congress but may still gain a majority from its coalition with the small but growing Green Party that was everywhere during the campaign, according to official voting trends released late Sunday by the electoral institute.
Monday, June 8th 2015 - 08:05 UTC
Maduro cancels trip to Rome and meeting with the Pope because of a 'flu spell'

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced he had canceled a planned trip to Rome and Vatican during which he was due to meet Pope Francis, because he is sick with flu. Analysts believe the 'diplomatic' flu spell could be linked to protests in Rome and the Vatican bringing up the issue of political prisoners, following on several letters sent to the Holy See.
Monday, June 8th 2015 - 08:00 UTC
Felipe Gonzalez in Venezuela to help lawyers defending political prisoners

Former Spanish prime minister Felipe González has arrived in Venezuela, where he intends to help lawyers defending imprisoned opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez and Caracas mayor Antonio Ledezma, who is under house arrest.
Monday, June 8th 2015 - 07:49 UTC
Francis receives Cristina Fernandez, but is criticized for mingling in Argentine politics

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez was received on Sunday in the Vatican by Pope Francis for an encounter that lasted almost two hours, in the fifth meeting between the pontiff and head of state since the ex-Buenos Aires archbishop was elected to the Holy See. The meeting however was not without criticism from Buenos Aires.