
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Friday picked her close aide Nelson Barbosa, a left-leaning economist, to take over the finance ministry from Joaquim Levy who is leaving after a series of disagreements over economic policy.

The US dollar in Argentina's foreign exchange market plunged on Friday 35 cents to 13.60 Pesos on the second day since President Mauricio Macri's administration decided to put an end to official restrictions for the purchase of greenbacks and other dealings with foreign currency.

The United Nations was “royally deceived”, said Falkland Islands Member of Legislative Assembly Mike Summers in response to Argentina celebrating the 50th anniversary of a UN resolution that recognised the existence of a sovereignty dispute over the Falklands.

The United States has approved a measure to lift the 40-year ban on crude oil exports. The move is part of a US$1.1 trillion spending bill approved by the Senate on Friday that will fund the US government until 2016.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Friday rejected any idea of his ruling Popular Party (PP) trying to form a grand coalition with the main opposition Socialist Party (PSOE) after Sunday's general election, in a bid to stop emerging political forces Podemos and Ciudadanos from entering government.

The sprawling Petrobras corruption scandal web is again close to former president Lula da Silva, this landowner Jose Carlos Bumlai, arrested during Operation Lava Jato, was charged with corruption, money laundering and fraud.

Aerolínas Argentinas magazine “Alta” has committed an 'un-excusable' blooper in its English edition. In effect, in a long article from the November edition, and praising Argentina's aeronautic and space industry, available in all Aerolíneas flights the Islas Malvinas are referred to as the Falkland Islands.

Argentina's Finance Minister Alfonso Prat Gay said on Thursday that the first day in the market without the dollar restrictions imposed by the previous administration, had been positive and as they had planned or expected. Compared to the previous multi-tier system, the dollar appreciated in the range of 25% against the Peso in the unified market.

In a Christmas message to Falkland Islanders, UK Prime Minister David Cameron is hopeful that the election of a new Argentine president “will allow us to move towards a more mature relationship”.

Argentina's Security minister Patricia Bullrich together with her provincial peers and security forces unanimously voted to decree a “national security emergency” with the purpose of combating the drugs trade and strengthening border areas.