Politics

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 07:32 UTC

  Mexican president elect Peña Nieto wants a strategic alliance with Brazil

  

  Mexican president-elect Enrique Peña Nieto said in an interview that his administration will step up efforts in South America to repair the country’s image, including seeking a strategic alliance with Brazil.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 07:28 UTC

  Chavez promotes 147 Bolivarian officers including the first woman admiral

  

  Venezuelan head of state Hugo Chavez presided over the ceremony in which 147 Bolivarian National Armed Forces, FANB, officers were promoted to the ranks of general and admiral, including the first woman to hold the highest naval rank.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 07:23 UTC

  Peruvian mining conflict with locals in the Andes region remains stalled

  

  A peasant wounded earlier this week during protests against a massive mining project in north western Peru died Thursday, bringing the death toll from the riots to five. Following the clashes with police forces the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency in the area.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 07:16 UTC

  US trade complaint at WTO against China for imposing duties on car exports

  

  United States launched a trade complaint Thursday against China at the World Trade Organization, accusing Beijing of unfairly imposing duties on more than 3 billion dollars in exports of US-manufactured automobiles.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 07:11 UTC

  Mexico follows on Argentina and withdraws from zero-tariff accord for auto industry

  

  Mexico has withdrawn a zero-tariff agreement with Argentina on autos in a tit-for-tat trade dispute after the Argentine government's decision to pull out of an auto trade pact between the two countries.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 06:56 UTC

  Former Argentine dictator and other officers convicted for baby thefts

  

  An Argentine court has sentenced former dictator General Jorge Videla to 50 years in jail for stealing babies from political prisoners. There were also heavy penalties for other military officers involved in the practice.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 06:39 UTC

  Uruguay’s flag carrier Pluna “indefinitely grounded” and most staff redundant

  

  Uruguay’s flagship carrier Pluna said on Thursday that is was “suspending all flights indefinitely” and announced that 720 of the 900 staff would be sent on unemployment pay until a new associate for the company is found or the airline is definitively sold.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 02:02 UTC

  Romney’s vice-presidential pick is crucial next decision of White House race

  

  By Andrew Hammond (*) - With polls indicating this year’s race for the White House will be highly competitive, the key decision Mitt Romney has to make before the Republican presidential convention in August is his choice of running mate.

• Thursday, July 5th 2012 - 22:30 UTC

  Argentina further tightens “dollar clamp”, bans all greenback’ purchases for savings

  

  The Argentine Central Bank announced on Thursday it will officially ban the purchase of dollars for savings, the latest in a series of measures to discourage the buying of greenbacks.

• Thursday, July 5th 2012 - 18:07 UTC

  Drastic cut in UK Armed forces manpower preparing for “the Army of the future”

  

  UK’s Defence Secretary Philip Hammond announced that 17 units are to be axed from the British army as part of sweeping reforms that will reduce its overall strength by 20.000 posts.