Politics

• Friday, February 23rd 2018 - 06:56 UTC

  Falklands/Uruguay strengthening of links is of interest to visiting diplomats

  

  Two British diplomats based in Latin America were visiting the Falklands this week, arriving on Sunday on the delayed LATAM flight after enjoying an unexpected one-night stopover in Punta Arenas. Making his second visit to the Falklands was His Excellency Ian Duddy, British Ambassador to Uruguay. He was accompanied by Richard Jones, Second Secretary at the British Embassy in Buenos Aires.

• Friday, February 23rd 2018 - 00:12 UTC

  Venezuelan opposition to Boycott: won't contest on presidential elections

  

  The Venezuelan democratic opposition, represented by the Democratic Unity, announced that it will not be presented to the elections convened by the government of Nicolás Maduro for next April 22 and calls for a national boycott as it is considered a fraudulent process and without guarantees.

• Thursday, February 22nd 2018 - 09:41 UTC

  Argentine union leader Moyano remembers Macri where the real opposition stands

  

  Argentina's teamsters powerful boss, Hugo Moyano supported by members from banks, judicial and teachers unions, plus social, picketers and left wing groupings, together with Kirchner followers marched on downtown Buenos Aires Wednesday evening for a huge rally to protest President Mauricio Macri's economic policies and attempts to reform labor legislation.

• Thursday, February 22nd 2018 - 09:35 UTC

  Theresa May sets out proposals for post-Brexit transition period: Tories divided

  

  UK has published proposals for how it wants the transition period immediately after Brexit to work. It says the period should last as long as it takes to “prepare and implement the new processes and new systems”. Number 10 denied this meant it would be longer than the planned two years.

• Thursday, February 22nd 2018 - 09:27 UTC

  Meirelles says pensions reform “not dead and buried”, but was “credit negative” for agencies

  

  Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles said on Wednesday that he is focused on Brazil’s economic recovery and not thinking at this time of running for president in the October election, though he might consider a bid in April.

• Thursday, February 22nd 2018 - 08:00 UTC

  Helicopter carrier Ocean will be delivered to the Brazilian navy next June

  

  HMS Ocean pulled into Portsmouth for the last time as a Royal Navy ship as it is now due to be delivered to Brazil, which has bought the RN sole helicopter carrier. The Royal Navy's flagship has served for 20 years and has traveled all around the world. She was sold to Brazil for 84 million pounds (US$117 million) as new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth prepares to take over as leader of the fleet

• Thursday, February 22nd 2018 - 07:45 UTC

  Falklands' new patrol vessel starts her long journey to the South Atlantic

  

  The first of the Royal Navy's next-generation patrol ships set sail from Glasgow on Wednesday for her home port of Portsmouth. HMS Forth is the first of a class of five state-of-the-art Royal Navy vessels, designed for counter-piracy, anti-smuggling, fishery protection, border patrol, counter terrorism and other maritime defense duties.

• Wednesday, February 21st 2018 - 10:15 UTC

  Falklands' second scheduled flight proposal presented to Paraguay foreign ministry

  

  The United Kingdom and Argentina presented on Monday to the Paraguayan foreign ministry a joint letter requesting assistance in contacting airlines in the country that could be interested in establishing a new scheduled air service to and from the Falkland Islands.

• Wednesday, February 21st 2018 - 09:19 UTC

  Brexit strategy suggestion to Theresa May from 62 Conservative MPs

  

  More than 60 Conservative MPs have signed a letter to Theresa May making a series of “suggestions” about the government's Brexit strategy. The letter from the European Research Group says the UK should be free to negotiate and sign trade deals with other countries as soon as it leaves.

• Wednesday, February 21st 2018 - 07:19 UTC

  Switzerland interested in a trade deal with Mercosur despite its own farmers

  

  Swiss Economic Affairs Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann wants to speed up a free trade agreement between Switzerland and Mercosur, but there is concern in the agricultural sector, according to the country's media.