Politics

Tuesday, February 14th 2017 - 10:50 UTC
Temer refuses to lose another advisor whose nomination was barred by a judge

Brazilian President Michel Temer on Monday denied suggestions that he is trying to protect a minister implicated in a corruption scandal. Temer is under fire in the media and judiciary for controversially naming his close adviser Wellington Moreira Franco to a cabinet-level position.
Tuesday, February 14th 2017 - 10:34 UTC
Former Goldman Sachs executive and “foreclosure expert”, confirmed as US Treasury Secretary

A bitterly divided Senate on Monday confirmed Steven Mnuchin as United States treasury secretary despite strong objections by Democrats that the former banker ran a “foreclosure machine” when he headed OneWest Bank. Republicans said Mnuchin's long tenure in finance makes him qualified to run the department, which will play a major role in developing economic policy under President Donald Trump.
Tuesday, February 14th 2017 - 10:17 UTC
Brazil deploys federal troops to Rio do Janeiro; fears police strike might spread

Children returned to school and most public transport began operating again Monday in the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo state, which had been paralyzed by a protest that prevented military police from patrolling. Amid fears a similar protest could erupt in the days before Carnival, the Brazilian government announced it would deploy troops to police the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Tuesday, February 14th 2017 - 09:37 UTC
Uruguay's hope of pulp mill announcement still far away, despite presidential visit to Finland

Talks between Uruguay's government and Finnish pulp and paper maker UPM on a new pulp plant project in the Latin American country are proceeding, Uruguay's president Tabare Vazquez said on Monday.
Monday, February 13th 2017 - 16:41 UTC
Argentina expects at least 15 million tons of wheat from the 2016/17 crop

Argentine farmers are expected to harvest at least 15 million tons of wheat in the 2016/17 crop year versus 11.3 million in the previous season, Agriculture Minister Ricardo Buryaile said last week. Wheat planting in Argentina expanded dramatically when President Mauricio Macri eliminated export taxes soon after his December inauguration.
Monday, February 13th 2017 - 10:59 UTC
Panama Papers office raided as part of the Petrobras/Odebrecht investigation

The offices of Mossack Fonseca, the law firm at the centre of the Panama Papers leak, were raided on 9 February as part of an ongoing investigation into Brazil's biggest corruption scandal, the so called Operation Carwash (“Lava Jato” in Portuguese) involving the state-run oil company Petrobras.
Monday, February 13th 2017 - 10:45 UTC
Brazilian police returned on Sunday to patrolling Espirito Santo state

More than 1,200 military police returned to patrols in Espirito Santo on Sunday as the n Brazilian state inched toward normalcy after a protest left a security vacuum that fueled a crime wave. Schools in the state (north of Rio de Janeiro) are scheduled to reopen Monday and public transport will resume a full schedule, the president's office said on Twitter.
Monday, February 13th 2017 - 10:14 UTC
Vice-president Pence: Trump looks forward to speaking with president Macri

Argentine president Mauricio Macri and US vice-president Mike Pence spoke last Friday on the phone and agreed that the two countries need to redouble their efforts to enhance job creation and economic growth. The vice-president also noted that president Donald Trump looks forward to speaking with president Macri.
Monday, February 13th 2017 - 09:39 UTC
Falkland Islanders must be recognized, says UK ambassador in Argentina

UK is interested in strengthening bilateral relations with Argentina, building confidence, dialogue, leaving aside sanctions and conflicts, and when it comes to the Falklands/Malvinas and sovereignty, “we must recognize Islanders, their wishes, their lives”, indicated British ambassador in Buenos Aires Mark Kent in an interview with Martin Dinatale, political and diplomatic analyst from La Nacion.
Monday, February 13th 2017 - 09:33 UTC
OAS Observation Mission Begins Deployment in Ecuador for General Elections

The Organization of American States Electoral Observation Mission (OAS/EOM) to the general elections and referendum that will be held in Ecuador on February 19 began its deployment this week.