Politics

Monday, December 21st 2015 - 07:14 UTC
Spain's left-right draw ends two-party system and marks time of coalitions

Spain is heading for a period of difficult coalition-building after Sunday’s elections in which Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservatives came first, but were far short of a majority and with no obvious coalition partner after the centrist Ciudadanos (Citizens) did worse than expected, finishing fourth.
Monday, December 21st 2015 - 07:00 UTC
Mercosur summit agenda includes trade, energy, human rights; Venezuela's Maduro absent

Paraguay foreign minister Eladio Loizaga advanced some of the issues that will addressed on Monday's Mercosur presidential summit, when all of the members of the group's heads of state have confirmed their attendance, except Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, plus leaders from associate members.
Monday, December 21st 2015 - 06:50 UTC
Mercosur identifies 80 intra-trade non tariff barriers and discuss their elimination

Mercosur members have identified over eighty non tariff barriers currently effective in intra-trade and have agreed on their gradual elimination, a proposal to be considered by the group's presidential summit when they meet Monday in Asuncion, Paraguay.
Monday, December 21st 2015 - 06:32 UTC
Timerman admits in 2012 recording that Iran 'planted the bombs' at AMIA

Argentine journalist Daniel Santoro on Friday revealed two recordings in which former Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman is heard admitting that Iran “planted the bombs” that demolished the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires in 1994.
Saturday, December 19th 2015 - 06:39 UTC
Rousseff picks Barbosa as finance minister, a strong critic of Levy and austerity

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.
Saturday, December 19th 2015 - 06:18 UTC
Argentina's foreign exchange market slowly adapting to new rules with no major surprises

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.
Saturday, December 19th 2015 - 06:01 UTC
Resolution 2065 on Falklands: United Nations 'royally deceived' 50 years ago

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.
Saturday, December 19th 2015 - 04:11 UTC
United States lifts 40-year ban on exports of crude oil

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.
Saturday, December 19th 2015 - 02:43 UTC
Rajoy rejects the idea of a grand coalition, German style, after Sunday's vote

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.
Saturday, December 19th 2015 - 02:40 UTC
Close friend of Lula da Silva formally charged in the Petrobras corruption case

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.