Politics

Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:55 UTC
Massive blackout hits Mercosur; Argentina and Uruguay in the dark for six hours; major investigation promised

A massive blackout left tens of millions of people without electricity in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and parts of Chile and southern Brazil on Sunday. The Argentine president called it an “unprecedented” failure in the countries' interconnected power grid.
Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:50 UTC
Argentine authorities admit they have yet to detect the cause of the major blackout

Argentina's Energy Secretary Gustavo Lopetegui described the massive blackout suffered mostly by Argentina and Uruguay, but which also affected areas of neighbouring countries, Paraguay, Chile and Brazil as “an extraordinary event that should have never happened, there are no reasons for it occurring and leaving Argentina completely in the black”.
Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:49 UTC
Bolsonaro sacks moderate member of his “military” cabinet

Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro replaced his minister in charge of political relations with Congress, the presidential spokesman said. Government Secretary Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz was fired during a meeting with Bolsonaro, according to reports in the Brazilian media last week.
Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:15 UTC
Brazil scraps visas for tourists from US, Canada, Japan and Australia

Effective June 17, tourists from the United States, Canada, Japan and Australia will no longer need a visa to visit Brazil. Travellers with a valid passport will be able to explore Brazil for up to 90 days, with the possibility of extending their stay to up to 180 days (though expect a visit to the Federal Police to get the extension approved).
Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:12 UTC
Netanyahu opens settlement in Golan Heights named after Donald Trump

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday inaugurated a new settlement in the Golan Heights, named after the country's “great friend” US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu unveiled a “Trump Heights” sign, featuring an Israeli and a US flag, to mark the site of the new settlement.
Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:07 UTC
Brexit divide persists among hopefuls to replace Theresa May

Several hopefuls vying to replace British Prime Minister Theresa May turned their fire on favourite Boris Johnson on Sunday questioning his pledge to leave the European Union by the end of October no matter what.
Monday, June 17th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
Head of Brazil's powerful Development bank resigns following clash with Bolsonaro

The head of Brazilian state development bank BNDES has submitted a letter of resignation amid public tensions with president Jair Bolsonaro, reflecting the serious divisions that continue to plague the administration’s upper echelons.
Sunday, June 16th 2019 - 09:35 UTC
New York State eliminates religious exemptions from vaccination for school children

Lawmakers in New York have voted to eliminate religious exemptions for school vaccines for children, as the state grapples with a measles outbreak. The law passed on Thursday night and led to chaotic scenes in the statehouse as anti-vaccination supporters clashed with lawmakers.
Sunday, June 16th 2019 - 09:27 UTC
Argentine ambassador to Haiti removed over comments referred to the Nazi Army

Argentina removed its ambassador to Haiti from his post over a tweet that angered Jewish groups earlier this month. On Argentina’s Army Day, 29 May, Day, Pedro Von Eyken tweeted: “Today is the Day of the Argentine Army, that of General José de San Martín and many others who gave it glory and honor.
Saturday, June 15th 2019 - 09:59 UTC
The people of Falklands celebrate Liberation Day

On Friday the 14th June 2019, the people of the Falkland Islands and British Forces South Atlantic Islands, celebrated in Stanley the 37th anniversary of Liberation Day, that is when the Argentine occupying forces surrender to the British Task Force sent to the recover the Islands.