Politics

• Friday, April 7th 2017 - 12:18 UTC

  Ecuador's ruling party accepts a recount of votes as demanded by the opposition

  

  In a surprise move, Ecuador’s ruling party, Country Alliance, has called for a recount of the votes cast in the weekend’s presidential election. Its candidate, Lenin Moreno, had won the election by the narrowest margin, with 51.16% of the vote.

• Friday, April 7th 2017 - 12:14 UTC

  Temer accepts to water down landmark pensions' reform to ensure congressional approval

  

  Brazilian President Michel Temer plans to water down its landmark pension reform proposal to ease lawmakers' resistance to the controversial bill key to rebalance the government's depleted finances. Temer said in a radio interview on Thursday he has authorized the lawmaker sponsoring the plan to alter its terms as long as he maintains the bill's minimum retirement age. He did not specify what changes could take place.

• Friday, April 7th 2017 - 10:39 UTC

  Mercosur and Pacific Alliance summit will address potential convergence and Trump's protectionism

  

  Mercosur and Pacific Alliance foreign ministers are scheduled to meet this Friday in Buenos Aires, on an Argentine initiative to advance in a possible political and trade confluence with the prospect of a regional alliance in the near future. The controversial Venezuela case will also be on the table, but attendants have anticipated that they won't let this issue dominate the agenda or cast a shadow on the purpose of the summit.

• Friday, April 7th 2017 - 10:31 UTC

  “I have gotten nothing” from Xi, but a strong friendship has developed, Trump admits

  

  United States President Donald Trump said to light laughter at a Thursday evening dinner he hosted for Chinese President Xi Jinping that after a long discussion, “I have gotten nothing, absolutely nothing” from his guest. But Trump added that the two leaders, who chatted earlier at the president’s Florida resort, had quickly “developed a friendship,” and he predicted that “long term we’re going to have a very, very great relationship and I look very much forward to it.”

• Friday, April 7th 2017 - 10:07 UTC

  Without consent from Gibraltarians, no sovereignty negotiations, PM May tells Donald Tusk

  

  Prime Minister Theresa May reiterated on Thursday the UK’s desire to ensure a deep and special partnership with the European Union, but as the UK exits the EU and “there would be no negotiation on the sovereignty of Gibraltar without the consent of its people”. Mrs. May made the statement after meeting at 10 Downing Street with the president of the European Council Donald Tusk for talks following the triggering of Article 50.

• Friday, April 7th 2017 - 09:55 UTC

  Nigel Farage proposes a Gibraltar referendum to become part of the UK

  

  One in three people in Britain would cede at least some sovereignty over Gibraltar for a better Brexit deal according to a YouGov poll made public this week. The poll conclusions were released when Nigel Farage, Britain's leading Brexiteer expressed support for proposals to hold a referendum in Gibraltar to ask whether they want to become part of the UK.

• Friday, April 7th 2017 - 08:15 UTC

  Massive stoppage in metropolitan Buenos Aires but with limited response in the rest of the country

  

  Airlines in Argentina grounded international flights and riot police scuffled with protesters on Thursday as workers staged a general strike to protest job and pay cuts. Conservative President Mauricio Macri condemned the call to strike where he faces midterm legislative elections in October.

• Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 12:53 UTC

  Uruguay's March inflation finally drops to the Central bank target range

  

  Consumer prices in Uruguay rose 0.68% in March, the government said in a statement on Wednesday, bringing the country's 12-month inflation rate to 6.81%. It was the first time since December 2010 that Uruguayan inflation was within the country's 3% to 7% target range.

• Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 12:46 UTC

  Trump removes top strategist Steve Bannon from the Security Council

  

  President Donald Trump has removed his senior strategist Steve Bannon from the US National Security Council (NSC). The appointment in January raised fears that the circle of US intelligence chiefs was being politicized.

• Thursday, April 6th 2017 - 08:05 UTC

  General strike in Argentina; Macri hosts the World Economic Forum

  

  Workers are committed to a general strike in recession-hit Argentina on Thursday, drawing complaints from conservative President Mauricio Macri as he prepares to host leaders and business people for an economic forum.