Politics

• Tuesday, July 26th 2016 - 21:51 UTC

  Meirelles insists on a cap for government spending, if not taxes will have to rise

  

  Brazil's Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles has warned that if Congress does not approve a ceiling for public spending, the country will have chosen a most cumbersome path with new rounds of tax increases and higher interest rates which will further delay sustainable growth.

• Tuesday, July 26th 2016 - 21:38 UTC

  Olympics Brazilian security personnel have been trained by Israel Special Forces

  

  Next month's summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will take place under watchful eyes of 10,000 Brazilian soldiers and police officers and all have been highly trained for the job by Israelis, according to a report on the Israel NonStop website, based on details broadcast by Israeli Channel 2 television news reporter Nir Dvori.

• Tuesday, July 26th 2016 - 17:42 UTC

  Nephews of Venezuela's First Lady confess to trying to smuggle 800 kilos of cocaine to the US

  

  Two nephews of Venezuela’s powerful first lady Cilia Flores, confessed to trying to smuggle 800 kilograms of cocaine into the US, according to prosecutors in the politically-charged case. The court filings by prosecutors shed new light on the case that has sounded alarm bells about high-level corruption and drug trafficking by Venezuela’s political elite at a time of increasing economic and political turmoil in the country.

• Tuesday, July 26th 2016 - 17:37 UTC

  Mothers breastfeed openly in public places across Argentina to claim rights

  

  Thousands of women across Argentina on Sunday gathered at landmarks and public squares to breastfeed their children in solidarity with a San Isidro woman who was reprimanded by local police and threatened with resisting authority for doing just that even though breastfeeding in public is legal.

• Tuesday, July 26th 2016 - 11:19 UTC

  Calls to reframe BOT-UK relationship: 'Territories are now more strategically important to Britain'

  

  The Premier of the British Virgin Islands Dr D Orlando Smith has called for the relationship between the United Kingdom (UK) and its Overseas Territories (OTs) to be re-framed to become more mutually beneficial.

• Monday, July 25th 2016 - 11:20 UTC

  Paraguay and Brazil reiterate “Venezuela is a non full member of Mercosur”

  

  Paraguay announced officially that it will not be attending the Common Market Council of Mercosur in Montevideo next 30 July, if the agenda includes the transfer of the group's presidency to Venezuela.

• Monday, July 25th 2016 - 11:11 UTC

  Malcorra disappointed with leaks from confidential process to chose Bam Ki'-moon successor

  

  Argentina's foreign minister Susana Malcorra confirmed that the United Nations Security Council held its first informal round of consultations among hopefuls for the UN Secretary General post, and underlined that the results of such talks are confidential, and there will be further such meetings, the first step in a long process.

• Monday, July 25th 2016 - 10:17 UTC

  Falkland Islands' portfolio for Sir Alan Duncan

  

  Alan Duncan KCMG MP has been appointed as Minister of State at the Foreign Office, responsible for Europe and the Americas. He replaces Hugo Swire MP, and will report to the new Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson. Sir Alan (59) remit will include NATO, the Americas, the Falklands, Gibraltar and polar regions.

• Monday, July 25th 2016 - 10:03 UTC

  Argentina's tall ship frigate “Libertad” calls in Liverpool, first time in 24 years

  

  The Argentine Navy tall ship frigate Libertad docked in Liverpool on Saturday on its first visit to the Mersey River in 24 years. Arriving in style to the sound of The Beatles, the crew band had been practicing Yellow Submarine since they left Argentina. Docked at Liverpool's cruise terminal she was open to the public on Sunday.

• Monday, July 25th 2016 - 09:51 UTC

  UK ambassador in Argentina presents credentials: new chapter in relations﹖

  

  Mark Kent, the new British Ambassador to Argentina formally presented copies of diplomatic credentials to Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Foradori last week, marking the start of a four-year stint as London’s representative in Buenos Aires. Kent, who was British Ambassador to Thailand from 2012 until April of this year, replaces John Freeman.