Politics

Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 09:55 UTC
Brazil withdraws from hosting a Latin America climate conference next August

Brazil has withdrawn its offer to host Latin America and Caribbean climate week, a key milestone leading up to the annual UN negotiations. Initially set to take place from 19 to 23 August in Salvador, the event is part of a series of regional summits to encourage dialogue between governments and civil society, in support of national climate pledges.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 09:54 UTC
May and Corbyn Brexit legislation will be put before parliament first week of June

Prime Minister Theresa May's government will publish draft legislation in the first week of June that would allow Brexit to proceed if approved by parliament, a Downing Street spokesman announced on Tuesday.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 09:53 UTC
Brazil's government cuts economic growth forecast, insists Congress must approve pensions' reform

Brazil’s government will cut its 2019 economic growth forecast to below 2% and seek supplementary funding from state-run BNDES development bank to meet current expenditure and avoid breaking its fiscal rules, Economy Ministry officials said on Tuesday.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 09:52 UTC
Ex Lima mayor jailed after admitting benefiting from the Odebrecht corruption network in Peru

A Peruvian judge on Tuesday sentenced former Lima mayor Susana Villaran to 18 months' preventive detention for accepting illegal campaign funds from Brazilian construction firms Odebrecht and OAS. The Odebrecht bribery scandal, which has washed through Latin America, runs deep in Peru, where the country's last four presidents are accused of receiving illegal payoffs.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 09:29 UTC
Guatemala constitutional court bars presidential candidate because she's the daughter of an ex military ruler

The constitutional court of Guatemala has barred Zury Ríos, the daughter of ex-military ruler Efraín Ríos Montt, from running for the presidency. Ms. Ríos was one of the frontrunners ahead of elections on 16 June. The court argued that Guatemala's constitution bars close relatives of coup leaders from serving as president.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 09:05 UTC
Trump's “little squabble” with China pinching farmers' pockets and his electoral base

US farmers, who are major exporters of pork and soy, are caught in the middle of President Donald Trump's trade wars. And farmers along with the industries that support them, are also key voters.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 08:43 UTC
China reports weaker industrial output and retail sales during April: stimuli round the corner?

China on Wednesday reported surprisingly weaker growth in industrial output and retail sales for April, reinforcing expectations that Beijing needs to roll out more stimulus measures as the trade war with the United States escalates.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 08:21 UTC
Services sector activity in Brazil slides 0.7% in March and 1.75% in the first quarter

Activity in Brazil’s services sector fell 0.7% in March from the month before, government statistics agency IBGE said on Tuesday, a decline far greater than expected and another strong sign that the economy contracted in the first quarter.
Wednesday, May 15th 2019 - 08:10 UTC
Pope Francis advances the sainthood of Sister Dulce , Brazil's “Mother Teresa”

Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of Blessed Dulce Lopes Pontes, the “Mother Teresa” of Brazil. The pope signed the decrees on May 13 during a meeting with Cardinal Angelo Becciu, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes. The Vatican published the decrees on May 14.
Tuesday, May 14th 2019 - 11:12 UTC
IMF says it can live with another possible government of Cristina Fernandez

The head of the IMF mission currently in Buenos Aires for the fourth review of the economic program signed by the administration of president Mauricio Macri last year, said that the Fund does not fear a possible return of ex president Cristina Fernandez to office.