Politics

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 07:12 UTC

  Brazil announces budget spending cuts to meet primary budget surplus

  

  Brazil's government on Thursday announced 44 billion Reais (18.41 billion dollars) in spending cuts as it seeks to meet its primary budget surplus target for 2014. This year's cuts exceed the 38 billion Reais (some 15.9 billion) in budget reductions announced in 2013 and extend to all government departments except education, health, social development, and science and technology.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 07:06 UTC

  Argentine restructured bondholders appeal to the US Supreme Court

  

  A group of bondholders that entered the restructuring of Argentine debt in 2005 and 2010 have presented their own appeal before the United States Supreme Court, in the case involving the so-called holdout hedge funds. The petition, made public on Thursday, mirrors a similar appeal carried out on Tuesday by the Argentine government.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 06:52 UTC

  Maduro warns CNN 'change coverage' or they will be forced out of the country

  

  President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro has warned that if US-owned television station CNN do not change their coverage of protests they will be forced out of the country. “CNN has the objective of forcing a civil war in order to provoke the 'gringo' [US] army against our fatherland. Alert the entire country, alert,” the head of state warned, in a live television appearance this evening.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 06:46 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil fearful Venezuelan crowds in the streets could be contagious

  

  The current political crisis in Venezuela is rattling regional organizations, has two of the leading countries fearful of the crowds in the streets, while Latin American left wing populism believes there is a concerted right wing effort to destabilize the governments of Venezuela and Argentina, according to Argentine political analyst Rosendo Fraga.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 00:16 UTC

  Uruguayans want closer links and trade with the Falklands/Malvinas shows survey

  

  A majority of Uruguayans, 55%, believe their country must support Argentina's sovereignty claims over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands but an overwhelming 80% also want closer trade links with the Islands and reject the ban on Falklands flagged vessels to operate from Montevideo or other Uruguayan ports. In both cases neutral opinions range 11% and 12%.

• Thursday, February 20th 2014 - 04:18 UTC

  IMF concerned with risks in emerging markets from pulling back stimulus too quickly

  

  Advanced economies, including the United States, must avoid pulling back stimulus too quickly given the weak global economic recovery and recent market volatility highlights key risks in some emerging markets, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

• Thursday, February 20th 2014 - 04:11 UTC

  North American partners meet to celebrate NAFTA 20 years, but the agenda has many frictions

  

  US President Barack Obama joined the Mexican and Canadian leaders Wednesday for a North American summit focused on trade but marked by friction between the “three amigos”. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto shook hands with Obama in an ornate state government palace in Toluca, near Mexico City, for private one-on-one talks before Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined them later.

• Thursday, February 20th 2014 - 03:49 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez turns 61 and her militants celebrate on twitter and YouTube

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez turned 61 on Wednesday and celebrated the event at El Calafate, “her place in the world” as she calls the Patagonian resort, where she arrived last Friday to party with family and friends.

• Wednesday, February 19th 2014 - 23:15 UTC

  Italian prime minister designate expects a parliament confidence vote on Monday

  

  Italian Prime Minister-designate Matteo Renzi said he expected his new government to be in place in time for a formal vote of confidence in parliament on Monday, after he wrapped up consultations with the main political parties.

• Wednesday, February 19th 2014 - 23:01 UTC

  In a pre-recorded message López calls for protests against Maduro to continue

  

  Imprisoned protest leader Leopoldo Lopez urged supporters to keep fighting for the departure of Venezuela's populist government, even as he was due in court accused of fomenting unrest that has killed at least five people.