Politics

• Thursday, January 28th 2016 - 06:49 UTC

  Brazil expected to announce massive injection of loans to revive the economy

  

  Brazil’s Finance Minister Nelson Barbosa is expected to announce as much as 60bn Reais (US$15bn) in loans as the government seeks to revive growth amid the worst economic downturn in over a century.

• Thursday, January 28th 2016 - 06:28 UTC

  Guanabara Bay pollution at the heart of Olympics sailing competition controversy

  

  The former CEO of World Sailing says he was fired for pushing to get rid of polluted Guanabara Bay as the sailing venue for this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Peter Sowrey tried to change the venue, or at least have a “B plan” but says “I was told to gag myself on the subject.”

• Thursday, January 28th 2016 - 06:19 UTC

  Iran says economic growth crucial to defeating extremism in the Middle East

  

  Generating economic growth in the Middle East is crucial to defeating extremism, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said putting forward his country as a regional trade hub and pillar of stability. Rouhani is on a four-day trip to Italy and France, looking to rebuild Iranian relations with the West some two weeks after financial sanctions on Tehran were rolled back following the implementation of its nuclear deal with world powers.

• Thursday, January 28th 2016 - 06:02 UTC

  HMS Protector in New Zealand as part of her Southern Ocean patrol

  

  HMS Protector has arrived in Christchurch, New Zealand, as part of her historic Southern Ocean patrol. The arrival of the specialist ice patrol ship marks the close cooperation that exists between the UK and New Zealand in upholding the conservation rules of the Antarctic Treaty System and to protect the Southern Ocean from illegal fishing activities.

• Thursday, January 28th 2016 - 05:50 UTC

  Airlines offering refunds to passengers booked to fly to countries with Zika cases

  

  Some airlines, including those serving the Caribbean, have started offering refunds to passengers who had been booked to fly to countries where cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed. United Airlines, American Airlines and British Airways are allowing passengers to back out of travel.

• Thursday, January 28th 2016 - 05:40 UTC

  Falklands' veteran ex HMS Hermes to decommissioned by Indian Navy

  

  Aircraft carrier from Portsmouth that fought in the Falklands War is making her final journey before being decommissioned after almost 60 years of active service. HMS Hermes served with distinction in the conflict against Argentina in 1982 before being sold to the Indian Navy and renamed INS Viraat.

• Thursday, January 28th 2016 - 05:21 UTC

  Argentine ex Army commander praises Macri/Cameron dialogue: what matters is getting started

  

  A former commander of the Argentine Army and Malvinas war veteran Martin Balza praised the recent meeting of President Mauricio Macri with UK Prime Minister David Cameron arguing that whatever is done to advance a serious, respectful, mature dialogue must be welcomed; “there won't be immediate results from that dialogue, but this is like a marathon, what matters are the first steps”.

• Wednesday, January 27th 2016 - 08:28 UTC

  Brazil's current account deficit drops to 3.32% of GDP, lowest since 2010

  

  The soaring US dollar and Brazil’s slumping economy led to a weaker demand for imported goods and services in 2015. As a result, Brazil’s current account deficit reached USD 58.942 billion, equivalent to 3.32% of GDP. The result is the smallest amount since 2010. In 2014, the current account deficit reached USD 104.181 billion, or 4.31% of GDP.

• Wednesday, January 27th 2016 - 08:20 UTC

  SBM Offshore reaches out of court settlement with Brazilian prosecution

  

  SBM Offshore’s CEO and another company executive have agreed an out-of-court settlement with the Brazilian public prosecutor’s office (Ministério Público Federal) for charges relating to the Petrobras corruption scandal.

• Wednesday, January 27th 2016 - 07:59 UTC

  Infantino secures support from CONCACAF for his FIFA presidency bid

  

  Gianni Infantino has won the support of the seven-member Central American Football Union in his bid for the FIFA presidency. Leaders of the UNCAF federations, which are part of CONCACAF, endorsed the UEFA general secretary in a letter on Monday that Infantino posted on his Twitter page.