Politics

• Friday, September 16th 2016 - 06:55 UTC

  Lula claims corruption charges are targeted to destroy him ahead of 2018 elections

  

  Brazil's former president Lula da Silva defended himself against corruption charges Thursday, saying the case against him was an attempt to destroy him politically ahead of elections in 2018.Speaking a day after prosecutors accused him of masterminding a massive corruption scheme at state oil company Petrobras, the popular leader launched a wide-ranging defense of his career and legacy.

• Thursday, September 15th 2016 - 10:40 UTC

  Uruguay admits “consensus support” to remove Venezuela from Mercosur rotating chair

  

  Uruguay's deputy foreign minister Jose Luis Cancela said that if Uruguay had not complied with the other Mercosur three founding members' joint declaration ignoring Venezuela's presidency and demanding it complies with the group's legislation and treaties, “Mercosur would have been launched into a period of full paralysis”.

• Thursday, September 15th 2016 - 10:34 UTC

  Falklands' Sea Lion oil project break-even price reduced to US$ 45 a barrel

  

  Falkland Islands oil explorer Rockhopper Exploration Plc has confirmed cost cuts at its Sea Lion project, which will reduce the scheme´s break-even price to US$ 45 a barrel. Capital investment at Sea Lion to reach first oil is now estimated at US$ 1.5bn.

• Thursday, September 15th 2016 - 10:30 UTC

  Bayer and Monsanto confirm merger in a $66bnm mega-deal; activists ready to protest

  

  Seed and chemical giants Bayer and Monsanto said on Wednesday that they will merge to become one of the world’s biggest agriculture giants, a 66 billion-dollar mega-deal that could reshape the future of farming and enhance their influence over the planet’s food supply.

• Wednesday, September 14th 2016 - 18:35 UTC

  Falklands welcomes UK/Argentina future cooperation agreement, which leaves sovereignty discussions out

  

  The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) welcomed the UK/Argentina future cooperation agreement to remove all obstacles limiting the economic growth and development of the Falkland Islands and points out it will be represented at future discussions on these matters, the removal of sanctions on hydrocarbons, fisheries, shipping and tourism, and underlines that “sovereignty of the Falkland Islands will not be part of these discussions”.

• Wednesday, September 14th 2016 - 17:56 UTC

  Falkland Islands Government welcomes better relationship with Argentina

  

  The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) has welcomed the agreement made between the Argentine and United Kingdom Governments, laid out under this morning’s joint statement. Speaking to the media, Members of the Falkland’s Legislative Assembly stated they “looked forward to a better relationship with Argentina”, especially in the areas of hydrocarbons, fisheries, shipping and tourism.

• Wednesday, September 14th 2016 - 10:53 UTC

  Falklands open to establish further air links with third countries plus two additional stops per month in Argentina

  

  The chapter on the South Atlantic establishes that the 1989 formula on sovereignty of the Falklands will not be affected and that the appropriate measures will be taken to remove all obstacles limiting the economic growth and sustainable development of the Islands

• Wednesday, September 14th 2016 - 10:31 UTC

  UK/Argentina Joint Communiqué – 13 September 2016

  

  The Minister of State for Europe and the Americas, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Sir Alan Duncan, visited Argentina on 12 and 13 September. The principal reason for the visit was to enhance bilateral consultations with the Argentine Foreign Ministry and attend the Business and Investment Forum organised by the Argentine Government.

• Wednesday, September 14th 2016 - 10:12 UTC

  UK/Argentina begin new dialogue and agree on areas of mutual interest including the South Atlantic

  

  The British Government and the Government of Argentina have agreed to an improved relationship through closer co-operation on areas of mutual interest, including on trade, security and the South Atlantic. A UK-Argentine joint statement has been agreed and released on Tuesday 13 September, following a series of high level meetings in Buenos Aires with Sir Alan Duncan - the first Foreign Office Minister to visit Argentina since 2009.

• Wednesday, September 14th 2016 - 08:28 UTC

  Venezuela could lose Mercosur membership if it does not comply with the block's rules

  

  Mercosur full members are working on a resolution calling on Venezuela to comply with all rules, regulations and international treaties of the block, which should be incorporated by next December, and if not the country could lose its membership, according to Uruguayan foreign minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa.