Politics

Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 08:19 UTC
Lula negotiating his surrender following a Saturday mass for his deceased wife

Ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil's polarizing election frontrunner and leftist icon, was negotiating his surrender after dramatically skipping a first deadline Friday to start his 12-year prison sentence for corruption.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 08:11 UTC
Spain hopes to reach an agreement with UK over Gibraltar by next October

Spain hopes to reach an agreement with the UK over Gibraltar by the summer, its foreign minister has said. Alfonso Dastis said Spain would “defend our position” but the two sides were “working towards” an agreement as soon as possible. The UK says “informal” talks are going on about Gibraltar's post-Brexit future with Spain.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 07:59 UTC
WHO marks 70th birthday: “Universal health coverage, everyone, everywhere”

On 7 April, World Health Day, the World Health Organization marks its 70th anniversary. Over the past 7 decades, WHO has spearheaded efforts to rid the world of killer diseases like smallpox and to fight against deadly habits like tobacco use.
Saturday, April 7th 2018 - 02:43 UTC
Brazilian judge fines Facebook US$ 34m for failing to cooperate in graft probe

Brazilian judge has ordered that Facebook Inc pay 111.7 million Reais (US$ 33.4 million) for failing to cooperate with a corruption investigation, federal prosecutors said on Thursday, prompting Facebook to say it was exploring “all legal options.”
Friday, April 6th 2018 - 19:47 UTC
Regaining citizens’ trust in public institutions is key to resuming inclusive growth and well-being in Latin America and the Caribbean

Brussels, 09 April 2018 - Three out of four Latin Americans today show little or no confidence in their national governments. Around 80% think corruption is widespread. These levels are both up from 55% and 67% respectively in 2010. Mistrust is rising as in most regions of the world and risks deepening the disconnect between people and public institutions, harming social cohesion and weakening the social contract. Reconnecting public institutions with citizens by better responding to their demands is thus critical for strengthening growth and sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and for the well-being of the region’s citizens, according to the Latin American Economic Outlook 2018, Rethinking Institutions for Development. The region needs more transparent, capable, credible and innovative institutions if it wants to put itself on a higher and more inclusive development trajectory.
Friday, April 6th 2018 - 16:23 UTC
Lula resists arrest deadline waiting for last minute habeas corpus filed at an appeals court

Former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told Folha de Sao Paulo early Friday that he has decided not to turn himself at the Federal Police in Curitiba where he must serve a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, as ordered by judge Sergio Moro.
Friday, April 6th 2018 - 09:17 UTC
Trump will take his confrontation with China to the Summit of the Americas

United States President Donald Trump, engaged in an escalating confrontation with Beijing over trade, will urge Latin American leaders next week to work with the United States – not China – on trade, a senior US official said on Thursday. Trump’s trip to Lima, Peru, for the Summit of the Americas has been prefaced by aggressive moves on trade and immigration.
Friday, April 6th 2018 - 08:12 UTC
UK Export Finance support for Uruguay increased to £4 billion

The United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) support available for trade with Uruguay has been increased to up to £4 billion, meaning an additional £2.25 billion in support for UK companies exporting to Uruguay and for Uruguayan buyers of UK goods and services.
Friday, April 6th 2018 - 08:00 UTC
Argentine minister refers to Malvinas as Falklands, and triggers a political storm

Argentina's Defense minister has sparked a political storm after appearing to imply the Falkland Islands are British. Oscar Aguad has been accused by the Buenos Aires media of suggesting that the Islands were not part of Argentine territory.
Friday, April 6th 2018 - 07:47 UTC
Lula expected to continue campaigning from jail as the Workers Party readies a Plan B and option candidate

Even when Brazilian ex president Lula da Silva was described as facing Judge Sergio Moro's Friday jailing decision calmly, the big question now is what follows for the presidential candidate and the Workers Party chances ahead of the coming October presidential election.