Politics

• Thursday, March 22nd 2018 - 14:53 UTC

  Cambridge Analytica partner in Brazil under prosecutor investigation

  

  Brazilian prosecutors on Wednesday said they had opened an investigation into whether London-based political consultancy Cambridge Analytica acted illegally in Brazil, as controversy over the firm’s data harvesting practices spreads across the globe.

• Thursday, March 22nd 2018 - 14:26 UTC

  Lula could have to begin serving his 12-year sentence next week

  

  Brazilian federal appeals court will make a final ruling next week on a corruption conviction of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a decision that could see the popular politician ordered to prison shortly afterward, the court’s press office said on Wednesday.

• Thursday, March 22nd 2018 - 14:04 UTC

  Zuckenberg admitted the network “made mistakes”, and was willing to testify before Congress

  

  Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has admitted that the social network “made mistakes” that led to millions of Facebook users having their data exploited by a political consultancy.Cambridge Analytica is accused of improperly using the data on behalf of political clients. In a statement Zuckerberg said a “breach of trust” had occurred. In a later interview with CNN he said he was “really sorry”, and pledged to take action against “rogue apps”.

• Thursday, March 22nd 2018 - 11:33 UTC

  Red Cross: Rising humanitarian needs among Venezuelans entering Colombia

  

  The Colombian Red Cross Society have been working for more than a year to support people arriving in Colombia and travelling through the country. Aid workers are warning of rising vulnerabilities among people crossing the Colombian-Venezuelan border and “are calling on the international community to increase support for humanitarian efforts”, said a statement published by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) at Geneva.

• Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 20:27 UTC

  Peruvian president offers resignation to Congress ahead of an impeachment vote

  

  Embattled President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has offered his resignation to Peru's congress ahead of a scheduled vote on whether to impeach the former Wall Street investor on corruption charges, according to a presidential aide. If congress accepts the resignation, power would transfer to Vice President Martin Vizcarra, who is serving as Peru's ambassador to Canada.

• Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 07:37 UTC

  UK inflation drops to 2.7% in February, weakest increase since July 2017

  

  UK inflation was weaker than expected in February easing some of the squeeze on households' spending power but doing little to change bets on a Bank of England rate rise in May. Official data showed consumer prices rose by an annual 2.7% last month, the weakest increase since July of last year and down from a rise of 3.0% in January.

• Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 07:07 UTC

  Mercosur “blocks” talks on auto exports and government procurement contracts, claims EU

  

  European officials said this week that significant obstacles remain to a long-delayed trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur, even as South American officials expressed optimism a deal would be finalized soon.

• Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 06:49 UTC

  Trump congratulates Putin and announces coming summit; Republicans furious

  

  President Donald Trump congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election during a phone call on Tuesday and the two leaders agreed to hold talks soon. “We will probably get together in the not-too-distant future, so we can discuss arms, we can discuss arms race.” Trump told reporters before an oval office meeting with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 06:41 UTC

  Lagarde insists at financial G20: “we should fix the roof while the sun shines”

  

  IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde at the conclusion of the Group of 20 (G20) Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Buenos Aires, reiterated praise for Argentina president Mauricio Macri gradual economic policies, and called on the need for reform in the more advanced economies to ensure sustained, solid growth.

• Wednesday, March 21st 2018 - 06:09 UTC

  Foreign minister Faurie will outline Argentine policy towards Falklands in Congress

  

  Argentine foreign minister Jorge Faurie is expected this Wednesday in Congress to outline president Macri administration's current policy towards the Falkland Islands, mainly negotiations on air links and South Atlantic fisheries conservation.