Politics

• Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 09:45 UTC

  Rousseff's latest austerity measures, 'hard to pass' warn congress leaders

  

  President Dilma Rousseff's latest austerity plan to rescue Brazil's sinking economy faced a cold reception Tuesday, with Congress raising questions over whether the measures will win approval. The speaker of the lower house of Congress and one of Rousseff's chief foes, Eduardo Cunha, dismissed the measures as “pseudo cuts” and predicted they would not easily pass.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 09:34 UTC

  Two close associates of Lula da Silva will face trial on the Petrobras scandal

  

  Two leading figures associated with Brazil's ruling Workers' Party will face trial over their alleged roles in the Petrobras graft scandal, authorities confirmed Tuesday.A judge has accepted to take on the case brought against Jose Dirceu, a former chief of staff under ex-president Lula da Silva (2003-2010), and who prosecutors say masterminded the bribes and embezzlement scheme skimming huge sums from the state oil giant.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 09:24 UTC

  International Day of Democracy: New UK legal expertise fund and Magna Carta global tour

  

  Minister of State Baroness Anelay has announced a new £100,000 fund to enable other countries to benefit from the UK’s world-leading legal expertise, marking the International Day of Democracy, 15 September. At an event held at Gray’s Inn – at the heart of the UK’s world-leading legal scene – the Minister launched the ‘Magna Carta Partnerships’ fund.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 09:18 UTC

  OPEC refuses to cut output pushing higher-cost oil producers out of the market

  

  The monthly report from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said a weaker outlook for China would contribute to slower global oil demand growth next year. “U.S. oil production has shown signs of slowing,” OPEC said in the report. “This could contribute to a reduction in the imbalance of oil market fundamentals, however, it remains to be seen to what extent this can be achieved in the months to come.”

• Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 09:09 UTC

  Guatemalan runoff on 25 October between a comedian and a former first lady

  

  Guatemalan officials confirmed Tuesday that comedian and surprise presidential frontrunner Jimmy Morales will face former first lady Sandra Torres in a run-off on October 25. The announcement capped a dramatic first-round vote rocked by the outgoing president's resignation and arrest on corruption charges, and a down-to-the-wire battle for the second spot in the run-off.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 08:57 UTC

  Guyana asks Google to remove Spanish names from Essequibo region which Venezuela claims

  

  Unasur (Union of South American Nations) member Guyana is asking Google to remove certain street names near its disputed shared border with Venezuela, Guyana's foreign minister announced. The names, in Spanish, seem to suggest they are part of Venezuela, Carl Greenidge said.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 08:41 UTC

  Corbyn criticized for not singing the national anthem during service to mark Battle of Britain anniversary

  

  UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn opted to stand in silence during the singing of the national anthem at a service to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain on Tuesday. The new Labour leader, who believes in the abolition of the monarchy, has faced criticism for not joining in.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 08:29 UTC

  UN message on 30th anniversary of the convention for the protection of the ozone layer

  

  Not so long ago, humanity stood on the brink of a self-inflicted catastrophe. Our use of ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) had torn a hole in the ozone layer that protects us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation.

• Wednesday, September 16th 2015 - 07:45 UTC

  Chile's 24-hour workers strike grounds all civil flights; thousands of passengers stranded

  

  A 24-hour strike by civil aviation workers in Chile grounded dozens of departing flights and affected thousands of passengers, officials said on Tuesday. The strike began at midnight with nearly 4,000 workers demanding improved labor conditions and came just days before a September 18 national holiday celebrating the country's independence, a time when many people travel.

• Tuesday, September 15th 2015 - 10:30 UTC

  Aerolineas Argentinas expropiation returns to haunt Cristina Fernandez

  

  The Argentine government and its economic crimes bureau, Procelac, filed on Monday a complaint against Spanish group Marsans for an alleged move to “sell” a lawsuit filed before the World Bank’s ICSID over Aerolineas Argentinas and Austral expropriations, to Burford Capital, a speculative fund. ICSID stands for International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.