International

• Monday, March 14th 2016 - 13:17 UTC

  Queen's Commonwealth Day speech focused on inclusivity

  

  People of the Commonwealth should “support those in need” and others who “feel excluded”, the Queen said in her annual message to the association, which is focused on inclusivity. She said helping those less fortunate would be a way of embodying this year's Commonwealth theme of inclusivity.

• Monday, March 14th 2016 - 11:35 UTC

  Falklands experiences steady growth in cruise visitors and leisure tourists

  

  By Joshua Peck - The number of cruise passengers visiting the Falkland Islands is projected to increase for the third season in a row. Each tourist season, lasting from October to March, sees numerous cruise vessels arrive in the Falklands, with passengers typically disembarking for a single day onshore. The last cruise vessel for the current season is scheduled to arrive on 31st March.

• Monday, March 14th 2016 - 11:33 UTC

  Argentina's February inflation 4.8%; minister anticipates 1% during second quarter

  

  February’s inflation in Argentina reached 4.8% and has accumulated 33.9% in the last twelve months, according to the so called “congressional inflation index” released laast week. But Finance minister Alfonso Prat-Gay from Chile anticipated that consumer prices will fall to nearly 1% during the second quarter.

• Sunday, March 13th 2016 - 22:49 UTC

  Argentina's government release of 2015 fiscal results triggers strong controversy

  

  Argentina's Finance Ministry finally released its fiscal results for the 2015 period, which showed a deficit amounting to more than 5% of GDP. The figure is likely to be subject to much controversy and discussion, as the government of president Mauricio Macri introduced new methodology to calculate its figures.

• Sunday, March 13th 2016 - 22:22 UTC

  Argentine bonds: US Appeals court puts on hold Judge Griesa's lifting of injunctions

  

  United States appeals court put on hold a United States District Judge Thomas Griesa ruling lifting injunctions that have restricted Argentina from paying off some debts in light of the country’s US$6.5 billion offer to settle litigation over bonds in default since 2002.

• Sunday, March 13th 2016 - 21:50 UTC

  More than a million people fill the streets of Brazil demanding removal of Rousseff

  

  More than a million people have poured onto the streets of Brazil to demand the removal of the country's president Dilma Rousseff. The president is struggling to hold on to power in the face of a massive corruption scandal and the worst recession in decades.

• Sunday, March 13th 2016 - 16:50 UTC

  Brazil's largest party agrees that if Rousseff is forced out, Temer will replace her

  

  Brazil's largest political party and decisive member of the ruling coalition said on Saturday it will take 30 days to decide whether to break with President Dilma Rousseff as she faces an impeachment battle. Calls within the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, PMDB, to ditch the coalition have been growing as Rousseff faces a bruising recession, a spiraling corruption scandal and a probe of alleged electoral violations, as well as possible impeachment.

• Saturday, March 12th 2016 - 06:59 UTC

  Brazilian political leaders discuss strategy in the event of a presidential removal

  

  After expressing support for former president Lula da Silva, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) met with main opposition leaders who are demanding President Dilma Rousseff be impeached. President of the Senate and member of the PMDB Renán Calheiros held extensive talks with the strongest opposition force, the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB), led by Aécio Neves, and agreed a joint strategy to face the crisis.

• Friday, March 11th 2016 - 20:47 UTC

  Odebrecht's involvement in Petrobras corruption scandal costing the conglomerate dearly

  

  The Odebrecht group of companies, whose top officials have been sentenced to prison for involvement in the corruption scheme of Brazil's largest company Petrobras, has come under strong pressure from its creditors to use the crown jewel, the petrochemical company Braskem as collateral to avoid filing for bankruptcy.

• Friday, March 11th 2016 - 20:06 UTC

  Brazil's February inflation down, but central bank calls for structural reforms and budget control

  

  Brazil’s consumer-price index slowed in February, providing relief for the country’s central bank amid its efforts to curb inflationary pressures. The consumer-price index, IPCA, rose 0.90% in February, compared with an increase of 1.27% in January, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, or IBGE, said.