Politics

• Wednesday, September 2nd 2020 - 09:50 UTC

  Brazil/Argentina spat over non automatic import licenses delaying Mercosur bilateral trade

  

  Brazil expressed its disenchantment with the Argentine policy of delaying the approval of the so-called nonautomatic import licenses which has seen millions of dollars in sales held at the border. This situation has been increasing in recent months, in what is considered a breach of bilateral accords in the framework of Mercosur agreements, and the World Trade Organization, WTO, rules.

• Wednesday, September 2nd 2020 - 09:46 UTC

  Roundup weedkiller and cancer decision, appealed by Bayer at California Supreme Court

  

  Bayer AG has asked California’s Supreme Court to review a decision awarding US$ 20.5 million to a groundskeeper who claimed the company’s Roundup weedkiller caused his cancer, arguing the ruling was at odds with federal law and settled legal principles.

• Wednesday, September 2nd 2020 - 09:45 UTC

  Brazilian economy is back to 2009 size, following a 11,4% contraction in the second quarter

  

  Brazil’s economy shrank in the second quarter by the most on record as anti-coronavirus lockdown measures slammed activity in almost every sector, dragging Latin America’s largest economy back to the size it was in 2009.

• Wednesday, September 2nd 2020 - 09:44 UTC

  Colombia reopens and tries to reignite the economy after months of restrictions

  

  Airports, bus terminals, restaurants, and gyms reopened in most of Colombia on Tuesday as the nation attempts to reignite its economy following months of restrictions for the coronavirus pandemic. The step expanded previous moves that allowed shops, construction sites, shopping malls, and factories to resume operations in June in most of the country's cities.

• Wednesday, September 2nd 2020 - 09:43 UTC

  Argentina/China accord to produce nine million tons of pork delayed by environmentalists

  

  The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between China and Argentina scheduled for this week has been delayed until November, the Argentine foreign ministry announced officially on Tuesday. The delay will enable to add an “article referred to the protection of the environment, natural resources, and bio-security”, added the release.

• Wednesday, September 2nd 2020 - 08:38 UTC

  Falklands and St Helena will be participating in the Virtual Island Summit

  

  St Helena and the Falkland Islands will be joining over 100 islands in the Virtual Island Summit. The Summit (https://www.islandinnovation.co/summit/) is a free online event aimed at connecting islands across the globe to share common experiences through a digital platform.

• Tuesday, September 1st 2020 - 08:57 UTC

  Argentina restructures 99% of US$ 66bn debt issued under foreign legislation: now IMF and debt in local legislation

  

  Recession-hit Argentina has managed to restructure 99% of US$ 66 billion in debt issued under foreign legislation, Economy Minister Martin Guzman announced on Monday.

• Tuesday, September 1st 2020 - 08:56 UTC

  Brazilian finances deteriorating: seven months primary deficit 11,9% of GDP

  

  Brazil's finances continued to deteriorate in July as the COVID-19 crisis pushed the public sector debt and deficit as a share of the economy to new records, official figures showed on Monday, although not as bad as economists had feared.

• Tuesday, September 1st 2020 - 08:49 UTC

  Argentina's ruling coalition planning a one time “solidarity tax” on 12,000 wealthy contributors

  

  Argentina’s ruling coalition, Frente de Todos, is seeking to impose a one-time tax on wealthy citizens as part of a strategy to solidify the alliance’s populist credentials while boosting government revenue amid a deteriorating economic crisis.

• Tuesday, September 1st 2020 - 08:45 UTC

  Bolsonaro back to surgery: this time to remove a kidney stone

  

  Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday he had been diagnosed with a kidney stone and would undergo surgery in September to remove it. The far-right leader, 65, has had a series of health issues, including four surgeries stemming from an attack in which he was stabbed in the abdomen during his 2018 presidential campaign.