Politics

• Friday, January 18th 2013 - 06:02 UTC

  Venezuela wants best of relations with the US based on ‘mutual absolute respect’

  

  Vice-president Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday that Venezuela is willing to have the ‘best possible relations’ with the US government as long as these are based on respect and equality. He added that it was President Hugo Chavez who instructed the newly named Foreign minister Elias Jaua on the issue.

• Thursday, January 17th 2013 - 23:45 UTC

  European Parliament calls for speeding EU/Mercosur trade negotiations

  

  The European Parliament regretted that negotiations for an association agreement between the European Union and Mercosur remain stalled or have hardly advanced since they officially resumed two years ago.

• Thursday, January 17th 2013 - 20:27 UTC

  IMF ‘definitive’ assessment of Argentine inflation and GDP stats in February

  

  IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde confirmed to the Argentine media that next February first the fund will be assessing her critical report on Argentine statistics, which could lead to sanctions for the country.

• Thursday, January 17th 2013 - 16:49 UTC

  Uruguay poised to grow 4% this year; Argentina and Brazil, 3.4%, says World Bank

  

  Uruguay’s economy is poised to grow 4% this year and in 2014, which is above the region’s average, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects issued this week. However Uruguay will be ranked twelfth in the growth ranking of Latinamerica this year but ahead of Brazil and Argentina with 3.4%.

• Thursday, January 17th 2013 - 16:47 UTC

  Brazil expects to tame inflation with the currency and energy rate cuts

  

  The Brazilian currency and energy rate cuts will help tame inflation this year, allowing the Brazilian central bank to keep interest rates at a record low even as growth accelerates, said Treasury Secretary Arno Augustin.

• Thursday, January 17th 2013 - 15:38 UTC

  Atlantic countries concerned with UK presence in Falklands; call for talks with Argentina

  

  Twenty one countries from South America and Africa strongly supported their commitment to keep the South Atlantic free of arms of massive destruction and expressed concern over the British military presence in the Falklands/Malvinas, which are claimed by Argentina.

• Thursday, January 17th 2013 - 08:18 UTC

  Lifetime speech for Cameron: how much Europe Brits are willing to tolerate

  

  British Prime Minister David Cameron came under renewed pressure to loosen his country's ties with the European Union today, two days ahead of a major speech in which he will spell out plans to renegotiate Britain's membership of the EU.

• Wednesday, January 16th 2013 - 08:54 UTC

  Maduro delivers state of the nation speech and announces new Foreign minister

  

  Venezuela President Hugo Chávez has decided to appoint Elías Jaua as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced Venezuelan Vice-President Nicolás Maduro during the Tuesday session at the National Assembly when he submitted the Yearly Report for fiscal year 2012.

• Wednesday, January 16th 2013 - 06:45 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez has hand-written copies of Chavez political testament, says Bocaranda

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez in her recent visit to Cuba declined to see the ailing Hugo Chavez but surprised her hosts, the Castro brothers, when she revealed having received two letters from the Venezuelan leader which she considered to be his political testament.

• Wednesday, January 16th 2013 - 06:35 UTC

  Argentina and United Arab Emirates sign nuclear energy agreement

  

  Ministers from Argentina and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have signed a memorandum of understanding on peaceful uses of nuclear energy during the official visit to Abu Dhabi of Argentine president Cristina Fernandez.