Politics

Friday, March 22nd 2013 - 06:10 UTC
Why the Falklands matter

By James Kirchick (*) - Americans might wonder why they should care about the fate of a tiny set of islands closer to Antarctica than to Florida, where penguins outnumber humans by more than 300 to 1. But the fate of the Falkland Islands — whose citizens expressed a near-unanimous desire to remain part of the United Kingdom this month — will set an important precedent for the universal principle of self-determination
Friday, March 22nd 2013 - 02:32 UTC
Italy's Grillo asks for mandate to form government; Berlusconi available for any coalition

Italy's anti-establishment Five Star Movement has officially asked President Giorgio Napolitano for a mandate to form a new government. The party led by comedian Beppe Grillo won an unexpected 25% of the vote in elections last month and holds the balance of power.
Friday, March 22nd 2013 - 02:28 UTC
US congress agrees on ‘fiscal warfare’ truth until budget debate next October

Congress has comfortably passed a large spending bill to keep the US government running until the end of September and avert a temporary shutdown. President Barack Obama must now sign the bill, which was passed by a bipartisan vote of 318-109.
Friday, March 22nd 2013 - 02:22 UTC
On 18 September 2014, Scotland will decide if it wants to become an independent country

First Minister Alex Salmond set a historical vote in motion announcing on Thursday the date for a referendum on Scottish independence, 18 September 2014 and promising to campaign hard for the “Yes” side. The simple question reads: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
Friday, March 22nd 2013 - 00:42 UTC
Timerman thanks Interpol for describing Iran/Argentina accord as ‘positive’

Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman showed his “gratitude” to Interpol legal counsellor Ronald Noble for the letter he sent to Buenos Aires considering the recently approved Memorandum of Understanding signed with Iran “positive.”
Thursday, March 21st 2013 - 06:36 UTC
Capriles says that with the devaluations Maduro is destroying the 14 years of Chavez achievement

Venezuelan opposition candidate Henrique Capriles claimed that acting president Nicolas Maduro with his latest decision approving a new devaluation of the local currency Bolivar is destroying the country, and he is achieving it in the hundred days he has been running the government.
Thursday, March 21st 2013 - 06:30 UTC
Venezuela plays the ‘US interference card’ suspends dialogue with Washington

The Venezuelan government said on Wednesday it has suspended a “channel of communications” with Washington as it escalates tension and polarizes public opinion ahead of elections to replace the late president Hugo Chavez.
Thursday, March 21st 2013 - 06:21 UTC
Argentina ratifies trade policy before WTO, which questioned inflation stats

Argentina ratified its controversial trade policy during the periodic country review at the World Trade Organization, WTO, arguing Argentina has grown sustainedly since 2003, as have social indexes supported by the strong and successful re-industrialization program.
Thursday, March 21st 2013 - 06:14 UTC
Urgent meeting of Argentine economic team as US dollar jumps 10% to 8.75 Pesos

President Cristina Fernandez called an urgent meeting on Wednesday evening of her economic team following a day of hectic trading in the currency exchange market which had the US dollar climb to 8.75 Pesos in the parallel market, expanding the gap with the official rate to almost 70%.
Thursday, March 21st 2013 - 02:33 UTC
Mexico and Brazil approve visa exemption for short stays

The governments of Mexico and Brazil have agreed to the exemption of the short-stay visas in ordinary passports for their citizens. The move is designed to increase the flow of travellrs between the two nations.