International

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 22:28 UTC

  Brazil and EU agree to lay an undersea cable to avoid US internet surveillance

  

  Brazil and the European Union agreed on Monday to lay an undersea communications cable from Lisbon to Fortaleza to reduce Brazil's reliance on the United States after Washington spied on Brasilia.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 22:19 UTC

  Rousseff and Barroso optimistic about Mercosur/EU trade talks scheduled to begin 21 March

  

  Trade negotiations between the European Union and Mercosur could move quickly once a technical meeting next month has taken place, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said after a meeting on Monday with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in Brussels and the European Council president Herman Van Rompuy.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 06:45 UTC

  Italy experiments with a new prime minister and 16-member cabinet

  

  Center-left leader Matteo Renzi took office on Saturday as Italy's youngest prime minister, facing pressure to show immediate results after he forced out his predecessor over the slow pace of economic reforms.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 06:40 UTC

  World top economies pledge 2% growth in next five years and millions of jobs

  

  The world's top economies have embraced a goal of generating more than 2 trillion dollars in additional output over five years while creating tens of millions of new jobs, while also promising more transparency in monetary policy to allay the concerns of emerging economies.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 05:00 UTC

  Insulza suggests 'outside players' could help reach an agreement in Venezuela

  

  Organization of American States, OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza has suggested the participation of 'outside players' in Venezuela to try and lower the pressure and consequences of the current situation in the country. Insulza made the suggestion in a letter published by several newspapers from the region, but underlining that it is Venezuelans that must reach an understanding to overcome the situation.

• Saturday, February 22nd 2014 - 07:04 UTC

  OECD warns global economy is threatened by a new low-growth era

  

  A widespread slowdown in global economic productivity is threatening to usher in a new low-growth era, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has warned.

• Saturday, February 22nd 2014 - 06:21 UTC

  YPF and Repsol are expected to sign a compensation deal next week

  

  Spanish oil major Repsol said Friday that, as part of a preliminary compensation deal struck last year with the Argentine government for the seizure of its former unit, YPF, it will take a charge of 1.28 billion Euros (1.76 billion dollars) on its 2013 earnings.

• Saturday, February 22nd 2014 - 06:06 UTC

  Dilma invites the pope to the World Cup and presents him with a 'verde-amarella' jersey

  

  Pope Francis received Friday in a private audience Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who formally invited the Argentine pontiff to visit her country during the World Cup soccer championship, which begins June 12.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 10:02 UTC

  Barcelona charged with tax fraud when the purchase of Brazil's forward Neymar

  

  Barcelona have been charged by a Spanish court with committing tax fraud in the signing of Brazil forward Neymar last year in the latest twist to a saga that has already claimed the scalp of the club president.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 07:41 UTC

  HMS Portland involved in anti-narcotics training with the Cape Verde Coast Guard

  

  On her way to South Africa and the South Atlantic islands of Falklands and South Georgia, the Royal Navy's Atlantic patrol HMS Portland after a brief stop at the port of Mindelo sailed back out to sea with a boarding team from Cape Verde embarked.