Politics

• Wednesday, January 4th 2017 - 11:38 UTC

  Venezuelan military fully involved in food staples illegal marketing and hoarding

  

  The Venezuelan military is selling food staples at up to 100 times the government-mandated costs in illegal marketplaces, according to an independent media investigation. The black markets are carried out at all levels of the military from foot soldiers on up to generals.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2017 - 11:04 UTC

  Labour too weak to win UK election, says Fabian Society; could drop to its lowest number of seats since 1935

  

  Labour is “too weak” to win a British general election alone and should consider working with rival parties, a left-of-centre think tank has said in a report. Andrew Harrop, the Fabian Society's general secretary, said there had been a “huge meltdown” of support in Scotland and cited party leader Jeremy Corbyn's unpopularity and a “muffled” approach to Brexit, as determining factors.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2017 - 10:08 UTC

  Trump reminds Republicans in Congress who's the boss and the agenda priority

  

  United Stated House Republicans were forced to back down on Tuesday on plans to throw out a congressional ethics office as Donald Trump rebuked them over the move, in an embarrassing clash with the president-elect on the day the new Congress was sworn in.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2017 - 09:13 UTC

  UK ambassador to EU steps down criticizing preparations for Brexit negotiations

  

  UK's ambassador to the European Union urged British colleagues in Brussels to challenge “muddled thinking and... speak truth to power” as he quit ahead of Brexit talks, according to the BBC. Writing to staff, Sir Ivan Rogers said ministers needed to hear “unvarnished” and “uncomfortable” views from Europe.

• Wednesday, January 4th 2017 - 08:54 UTC

  Malvinas question: Macri should surround himself of prudent, skilful advisors, says ex Army chief

  

  A former Argentine Army chief and Malvinas veteran, General Martin Balza said on Tuesday that president Mauricio Macri's government must “strengthen its dissuasion and negotiation capacities” in the Malvinas Islands question, and should surround himself of prudent advisors on the matter.

• Tuesday, January 3rd 2017 - 19:57 UTC

  Argentina reinstates refunds for agriculture exports

  

  Argentina has decided to reinstate refunds for agriculture exports, responding to a promise to the provinces from president Mauricio Macri but also to prop foreign trade and boost the most dynamic sector of an anemic economy. The fiscal cost is estimated in 165 million dollars and is extensive to wheat flour, beef, sunflower oil, powder milk, cheese, honey and other produce from the provinces.

• Tuesday, January 3rd 2017 - 19:47 UTC

  Gang war in prison riot causes at least 56 deaths in the Amazon city of Manaus

  

  A prison riot has left at least 56 dead, with decapitated bodies thrown over prison walls in the bloodiest violence in more than two decades in Brazil’s overcrowded penitentiary system, officials in the Amazon city of Manaus said on Monday.

• Tuesday, January 3rd 2017 - 09:43 UTC

  Argentina purchases Israeli high speed river patrol vessels to combat drugs

  

  Argentina announced the purchase of four Israeli high speed and fully armed river patrol vessels, together with an integrated vigilance system for land border crossings, with a total bill of eighty million dollars.

• Tuesday, January 3rd 2017 - 09:24 UTC

  Argentine government apologize for forgetting the Falklands in a map of Argentina in New Year greetings

  

  The Argentine government apologized on Monday for having omitted the disputed Falkland Islands in a map of Argentina included in a New Year greetings message. “Our apologies for the mistake from the Design Department in our end of the year greetings”, twitted the Development Ministry for having not included the Malvinas Islands.

• Tuesday, January 3rd 2017 - 09:18 UTC

  Carrió denies any misunderstandings with the government of president Macri

  

  The chair of the Argentina's Lower House foreign affairs committee, Elisa Carrió said she maintains an “excellent relation” with the national government and warned she does not wish to be involved in “any sort of internal dispute”.