Politics

• Wednesday, December 14th 2016 - 08:32 UTC

  Maduro/Vazquez address Mercosur conflict; 'uninvited' Venezuelan minister expected in Buenos Aires

  

  On the eve of Argentina becoming the next chair of Mercosur, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro revealed he held an hour long video conference with his Uruguayan peer Tabare Vazquez and they both agreed in building a path “to channel the current conflict”, which has Venezuela suspended from the group, but is rejected point blank by Caracas.

• Wednesday, December 14th 2016 - 08:16 UTC

  Airlines operating in Brazil allowed to charge for pax' luggage: lower fares?

  

  The Brazilian government authorized airlines operating in the country to charge for passengers luggage, among other rules that are scheduled to become effective on 14 March 2017. The new rules were approved unanimously and made public on Tuesday by the country's air transport regulator National Civil Aviation Agency, ANAC.

• Wednesday, December 14th 2016 - 05:35 UTC

  IAATO's 25 years pioneering performance recognized with place-names in Antarctica

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) has been recognized in a recent suite of Antarctic place names made by the United Kingdom.The place-names selected for inclusion in a place-naming theme for the pioneers of safe and environmentally responsible Antarctic tourism, includes a group of islands in the Grandidier Channel named the IAATO Islands, to reflect the organization’s role, over the past 25 years, in advocating and promoting the practice of safe and environmentally-responsible Antarctic tourism.

• Wednesday, December 14th 2016 - 05:10 UTC

  Trump challenges Congress and nominates close friend of Putin, Rex Tillerson Secretary of State

  

  Donald Trump officially announced his plan Tuesday to nominate ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, a pick that could pose complications in the confirmation process due to Tillerson's ties to Russia. Tillerson, 64, has no government or diplomatic experience but has done extensive work overseas on behalf of his petroleum company.

• Tuesday, December 13th 2016 - 15:42 UTC

  Temer preparing stimulus measures to prop the economy and his political future

  

  President Michel Temer, fighting for survival over corruption allegations against him and his government, is planning new measures to jump start Brazil's stalled economy, improve his dismal approval ratings and stifle calls for his resignation.

• Tuesday, December 13th 2016 - 11:01 UTC

  Argentina to spend over $ 40 billion on military equipment

  

  President Mauricio Macri has approved the purchase of airplanes for the Air Force, patrol vessels for the Navy and armored vehicles and combat rifles for the Army, it was announced Monday to give the Armed Forces back some of their lost firepower, Defense Minister Julio Martínez revealed. The total purchases will surpass 40 billion pesos (2,500 million US dollars), the minister added.

• Tuesday, December 13th 2016 - 10:45 UTC

  Cuba, Europe normalize relations after 20 years

  

  Cuba and the Eurpean Union Monday signed in Brussels their first cooperation agreement, which will be from now on the legal basis of the link between the island and the 28 EU countries.

• Tuesday, December 13th 2016 - 10:32 UTC

  Argentina ready to take Mercosur chair: priority is the trade accord with Europe

  

  Argentina's priority as chair of Mercosur which it will officially take over this week will be to advance negotiations with the European Union for a wide ranging trade agreement which will not include Venezuela, anticipated foreign minister Susana Malcorra .

• Tuesday, December 13th 2016 - 10:23 UTC

  Chaos in Venezuela: bills and coins pulled out of circulation to combat hyperinflation

  

  Venezuelans hastily dumped the country's 100-bolivar bill, the largest denomination, on Monday after the government said it would be pulled from circulation as the crisis-racked nation suffers what is believed to be the world's highest inflation. Populist president Nicolas Maduro said the withdrawal of the bill — worth just 2 U.S. cents on the black market — was needed to reduce contraband of the banknotes on the Venezuela-Colombia border.

• Tuesday, December 13th 2016 - 08:49 UTC

  First loan for an Andes tunnel to connect Argentina with Chile as part of Mercosur road net

  

  The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$40 million loan that will allow for bidding to begin for the Agua Negra tunnel, which will connect San Juan province in Argentina with that of Coquimbo in Chile. The tunnel is key to improving trade integration between the two countries and the rest of Mercosur through a new corridor that will connect the Atlantic and the Pacific from Porto Alegre, Brazil, west to Coquimbo, Chile.