Politics

Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 09:11 UTC
Teheran says it has full respect for the independence and sovereignty of Iraq

Iran said on Wednesday it respects Iraq's territorial integrity, after firing missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops. The early Wednesday strike led Iraq to say it would summon the Iranian ambassador.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 08:48 UTC
Something smells rotten in Maputo: Russian bank suing Mozambique over US$ 2bn in loans

Russian bank VTB is suing a Mozambique state-owned company over US$ 535 million it extended as part a series of loans now at the centre of a US$ 2 billion debt scandal. An online court filing dated Dec. 23 shows VTB has lodged a lawsuit in Britain’s High court against the Mozambique state and Mozambique Asset Management, which borrowed the money from VTB as part of a costly project that U.S. authorities say was an elaborate front for a bribery and kickback scheme.
Thursday, January 9th 2020 - 07:00 UTC
“Bumpy” start for the Royals: Harry and Meghan want to spend most time in the US; Buckingham not convinced

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released a statement saying they intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family. Here's that statement in full:
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 10:51 UTC
Iran’s retaliation in Iraq against U.S. forces is a “Slap in face”: Supreme Leader

Hours after Iran’s attacks on two bases in Iraq that houses United States troops, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed his nation considering the firing of 22 ballistic missiles as a “slap in the face” and that military action were “not sufficient” to end the American presence in the region. However, Iran’s authorities said they did “not seek escalation or war.”
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:55 UTC
Guaidó sworn as Venezuelan Assembly speaker for another term, despite Maduro's forces, goons and blackout

Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido was sworn in for another term as speaker of parliament on Tuesday after a tense stand-off with the armed forces who initially prevented him from entering Congress.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:50 UTC
Spain finally has a government: a coalition which includes a Catalan separatist group

Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez won the narrowest of victories in Parliament on Tuesday to take power for a second term in Spain with the backing of the anti-austerity party Podemos and a Catalan separatist group.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:49 UTC
S&P admits a mistake and raised its debt grade for Argentina to CCC

S&P Global Ratings raised its debt grade for Argentina on Tuesday, acknowledging the agency made a mistake when it changed the rating in late December for the crisis hit country.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:46 UTC
Chilean activity down and poor prospects for this year, following weeks of social unrest

Economic activity in Chile dropped 3.3% in November, led by a slump in mining activity, the central bank has said, and officials predicted low growth for the coming year as the country reels from anti-government unrest. The prediction is based on Chile’s economic activity index or IMACEC (Indicador Mensual de Actividad Economica).
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:45 UTC
Argentina will begin distribution of food cards to low income families later this month

Argentina's government will begin to distribute food cards to low-income families beginning later this month as part of its anti-hunger program. Social Development Minister Daniel Arroyo announced during a live presentation of Argentine Plan Against Hunger the government reached an agreement with the Governor Jorge Capitanich from the northern province of Chaco to fight with hunger.
Wednesday, January 8th 2020 - 09:40 UTC
Guaidó's ambassador has her diplomatic credentials withdrawn by Argentine government

In a blow to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, Argentina's government said on Tuesday it did not recognize him as his nation's interim president and had revoked the credentials of his representative in Buenos Aires.