Politics

• Friday, December 14th 2018 - 07:01 UTC

  HMS Montrose enjoys warm welcome in Chile

  

  HMS Montrose joined Chile’s party of the year as the country celebrated the 200th birthday of its Navy. The frigate was invited to join old friends – former British warships HMS Grafton, Sheffield and Marlborough, now serving under the Chilean flag – and make new friends in the port of Valparaiso where a series of high-profile anniversary events were staged over nine days.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 21:19 UTC

  Socialist Pablo Iglesias regrets about Venezuela: “The political and economic situation is disastrous”

  

  The Spanish Socialist leader, Pablo Iglesias, appeared before the Spanish Senate on Thursday over the alleged illegal financing that his political coalition, Podemos, could have received from Venezuela and Iran. In a tense debate with a senator from the Popular Party (PP), Iglesias said that the situation in the South American country “is disastrous” and that he regrets things he has said in the past.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 13:04 UTC

  President Vizcarra announces political reforms in Peru after Sunday's referendum

  

  Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra Wednesday announced a set of political reforms after most of his proposals drew overwhelming support in last Sunday's referendum.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 12:32 UTC

  Former carabineros Sgt admits he was ordered to lie in Catrillanca case probe

  

  Former Carabineros Sergeant Carlos Alarcón told prosecutors that he and his fellow servicemen were coached to hide the truth from investigators in the death of Mapuche leader Camilo Catrillanca Marín on November 14 in La Araucania, it was reported Tuesday.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 10:22 UTC

  Uber lands in Paraguay, starts taking applications from would-be drivers

  

  The international carpool company Uber made its official arrival in Paraguay Wednesday and starts receiving applications from potential drivers as of Thursday, it was announced. The service will become available for now in the cities of Asunción and Encarnación.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 09:15 UTC

  Huawei dispute: China arrests second Canadian on suspicion of harming state security

  

  Canadian businessman Michael Spavor, who worked with North Korea, is being investigated on suspicion of harming China’s state security, officials said, days after a former Canadian diplomat was detained in China in an escalating diplomatic row.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 09:10 UTC

  Corruption investigation into Brazil's major meatpacker JBS SA

  

  Brazilian police made public an investigation into corruption involving three senators and three lawmakers that stemmed from a related probe into major meatpacker JBS SA. The police carried out 24 search-and-seizure warrants in the early morning hours, they said in a written statement, as part of an investigation into money laundering and corruption, among other crimes.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 09:04 UTC

  Bolivia, Germany agree to join efforts in extracting lithium from Uyuni

  

  Germany and Bolivia will join forces for the extraction of lithium, as Europe's largest economy moves to secure supplies for battery-powered vehicles, which are believed to be looming over, the German government announced Wednesday.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 07:07 UTC

  Spain's minimum wage will increase by 22% in 2019, announces PM Sanchez

  

  Spain's minimum wage will jump by 22% in 2019 - the largest annual increase in more than 40 years. It means millions of low-paid workers could see a pay rise from €736 ($835; £665) to €900, effective from January. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the increase on Wednesday, declaring “a rich country cannot have poor workers”.

• Thursday, December 13th 2018 - 06:57 UTC

  Brazilian central bank keeps interest rates at an all time low

  

  The Brazilian central bank on Wednesday held interest rates at an all-time low, as widely expected, and hinted that it will hold off from raising them for longer than expected. The bank’s nine-member monetary policy committee, Copom, kept the benchmark Selic rate at 6.50 percent for a sixth straight meeting.