Politics

Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 07:17 UTC
Mercosur on collision course: Uruguay rejects collective presidency sponsored by Brazil

Uruguay's Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa said on Monday that he was opposed to the proposal that the Mercosur presidency should be held collectively, as a number of countries are opposed to Venezuela taking over the role. The proposal has been sponsored by Paraguay and Brazil for several weeks, particularly Brazil's Foreign Minister Jose Serra.
Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 07:03 UTC
Macri will move in an armored car following an attack with stones

Argentine president Mauricio Macri will be moving in an armored sealed following this month's attack with stones during a rally in the city of Mar del Plata. The measure was announced by Security minister Patricia Bullrich who claimed political activists close to former president Cristina Fernandez of having organized the attack.
Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:56 UTC
Argentina reaches agreement with oil companies for temporary freeze of fuel prices

Argentina's government and leading oil companies hammered out a plan to gradually trim artificially high wellhead crude prices over the next three months in exchange for a temporary freeze on retail fuel prices.
Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:38 UTC
Fearful of public's reaction Temer will not attend Rio Olympics closing ceremony

Brazil's interim President Michel Temer's press office informed on late Monday that he will not attend the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympic Games, which will be held on the evening of August 21 at the world-renowned Maracana stadium.
Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:29 UTC
More French towns adopt Burkinis' ban; clashes in Corsican beaches

A French court has rejected a demand by a group of French Muslims in Cannes to overturn a ban on full-body, head-covering swimwear on city beaches. A lawyer for the Collective Against Islamophobia in France said after the decision Saturday by a court in nearby Nice that he would lodge an appeal with the Council of State, the highest administrative body in France.
Tuesday, August 16th 2016 - 06:17 UTC
Chinese woman falls overboard from cruise vessel and is rescued 38 hours later

Chinese woman who fell off a cruise ship and drifted at sea for 38 hours before being rescued by fishermen has lived to tell the tale. The woman from Shanghai, known only by her surname Fan, leaned too far forward from a ship deck and fell overboard, according to Chinese media.
Monday, August 15th 2016 - 15:09 UTC
July inflation in Brazil remains over target: 8.74% in twelve months

Inflation in Brazil rose more sharply in July than economists expected, official data showed, raising pressure on the central bank to keep interest rates on hold for some time.
Monday, August 15th 2016 - 12:21 UTC
Mercosur Montevideo 23 August meeting to decide sanctions on Venezuela

The coordinators of Mercosur founding members will decide next 23 August at a meeting in Montevideo on the legal measures to be applied on Venezuela, which self proclaimed itself the presidency of the group and is also questioned for not complying with the rules and regulations to be incorporated to the group. In that case Venezuela could lose its full member status.
Monday, August 15th 2016 - 07:28 UTC
Argentina's economy: a battle over utility bills is president Macri’s first big crisis

The following article from The Economist points out that the Argentine Supreme Court in the next ten days has to decide on tariff rises for gas and electricity blocked by lower courts. And president Macri cannot afford to lose sine the price increases are a vital part of his plan to restore confidence in an economy undermined by years of reckless spending.
Monday, August 15th 2016 - 07:19 UTC
Brazil concerned about the 25% surge of the Real against the US dollar

The Brazilian Real weakened further on Friday after interim President Michel Temer showed concern over currency strength, while stocks edged lower following a heavy batch of quarterly results including state controlled oil company Petrobras.