Politics

• Wednesday, March 9th 2016 - 07:24 UTC

  As of next May first, 90% of Pacific Alliance trade will be free of tariffs

  

  The Pacific Alliance Additional Protocol becomes effective next May first, which means 90% of trade between Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico will be free of tariffs, while the remaining will be subject to gradual tariff liberation chronogram, according to Andres Rebolledo, head of Chile's International Economic Relations Department, Direcon.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2016 - 07:13 UTC

  Pacific Alliance four members committed “to solid and orderly public finances”

  

  Pacific Alliance members' commitment to maintaining solid and orderly public finances, in a changing global economic environment is crucial to continue to attract investments, said Chile's Finance minister Rodrigo Valdes currently in New York with his peers from Peru, Colombia and Mexico, to promote the region.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2016 - 06:28 UTC

  Falklands, “an indescribable mix of emotions and experiences”

  

  A group of Brazilian academics, students and journalists recently visited the Falkland Islands, invited by the local elected government. One of the visitors, Guilheme Lacerda wrote a small piece in the social network about what the describes as an incredible experience.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2016 - 06:02 UTC

  Sharapova, the highest/paid female athlete in the world, loses major sponsors

  

  Tennis star Maria Sharapova has lost several major sponsors after admitting that she failed a drug test at the Australian Open. The former world champion has been the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 years in a row, Forbes reported last year. She earned US$29.7 million last year — including “US$23 million from endorsements and appearances,” according to Forbes.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2016 - 05:35 UTC

  Argentine Lower House clears the way for a floor discussion of accord with holdouts

  

  After rough discussions, Argentina's Lower House committees on Tuesday managed to clear the holdouts bill for debate with changes proposed by the allied Renewal Front and criticism from Victory Front lawmakers.The bill will reach the floor next week. If it passes, it will then be up for debate in the Senate, where the situation is similar, with the ruling Let’s Change needing help from opposition lawmakers to ensure the bill passes.

• Wednesday, March 9th 2016 - 05:14 UTC

  Construction tycoon sentenced to 19 years in prison for Petrobras corruption scandal

  

  Brazilian construction tycoon Marcelo Odebrecht, 47, was sentenced Tuesday to 19 years in prison for corruption and money laundering in the giant Petrobras embezzlement scandal shaking Latin America's biggest country Petrobras in what prosecution has identified as Operation Car Wash.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2016 - 14:29 UTC

  Senior judges concerned about Lula's arrest but admit “evidence is very serious”

  

  Senior judges in Brazil voiced concern over the detention of former President Lula da Silva, even as they threw their support behind the sweeping corruption investigation that threatens to topple his embattled successor. Lula’s three hours of questioning in police custody on Friday was the highest profile development in the two-year probe focused on state oil firm Petrobras.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2016 - 08:24 UTC

  Germany warns Brexit would damage UK, European and global economies

  

  British vote to leave the European Union would damage the British, European and global economies, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble said in an interview with the BBC

• Tuesday, March 8th 2016 - 08:08 UTC

  Bloomberg fears a three way race could help Trump, and gives up idea of running as an independent

  

  Michael Bloomberg has decided against throwing his hat in the United States 2016 presidential ring. On Monday, March 7, the former New York City mayor, 74, penned a lengthy explanation on his website The Bloomberg View. as to why he will not run for president.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2016 - 08:03 UTC

  Brazil expected to contract 3.5% this year, says Central Bank survey

  

  Analysts expect Brazil's economy to contract by 3.5% this year, the Central Bank said Monday. Private sector economists, who expected the GDP to contract by 3.45% in the previous weekly survey, also raised their inflation projection from 7.57% to 7.59%.