Politics

• Tuesday, February 23rd 2016 - 06:18 UTC

  Two abstract expressionist master pieces sold for 500 million dollars

  

  United States billionaire Ken Griffen, paid $500 million for two paintings by abstract expressionist masters in one of the largest private art deals ever. Griffin, founder of Chicago-based hedge fund firm Citadel, bought works by Jackson Pollack and Willem de Kooning from David Geffen's foundation.

• Tuesday, February 23rd 2016 - 06:07 UTC

  Apple and US government appeal to public opinion on the court's privacy dispute

  

  The public dispute in the United States between the Justice Department and Apple continued Monday as the tech giant called on the government to withdraw its demand for help in unlocking a phone used by one of the shooters in December’s terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Calif., and instead let a commission of experts discuss the issue.

• Tuesday, February 23rd 2016 - 05:52 UTC

  Pound suffers the London Mayor Johnson effect as he supports Brexit

  

  The pound hit its lowest level against the dollar in almost seven years on concerns about a possible UK exit from the European Union. At one stage the pound was down as much as 2.4% at $1.4058, its lowest level since March 2009, before later recovering.

• Monday, February 22nd 2016 - 09:32 UTC

  Rousseff is managing to survive despite ongoing dispute with Congress

  

  President Dilma Rousseff's main coalition partner, the fractious Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PDMB), re-elected a key ally of hers as its leader in the lower house of Congress last week, enhancing her chances of blocking impeachment.

• Monday, February 22nd 2016 - 09:14 UTC

  Macri with The Washington Post “things are not going to change overnight.”

  

  Argentine President Mauricio Macri spoke with The Washington Post’sOn support for Lilian Tintori, “Venezuela always cared for our human rights. So I am doing exactly what they have done in the past for us”.in his office in the Casa Rosada, Argentina’s White House, about the economy, Venezuela and alleged Iranian terrorists in Buenos Aires. Edited excerpts follow.

• Monday, February 22nd 2016 - 09:03 UTC

  Argentine government optimistic Congress will lift 'paddock bill' as requested by Judge Griesa

  

  The administration of president Mauricio Macri is optimistic that Congress will lift the Padlock Law (Ley Cerrojo) clearing the way for Argentina’s long-standing dispute against so called speculative funds to be settled, Cabinet Chief Marcos Peña said.

• Monday, February 22nd 2016 - 08:51 UTC

  New rules in Argentina on handling protests and pickets becomes controversial

  

  The Argentine chapter of Amnesty International (AI) joined the human rights groups that have criticized the new guidelines unveiled by President Mauricio Macri's Security Ministry to handle protests, saying that it was unconstitutional as it restricts key rights, including freedom of the press by limiting the role of journalists.

• Monday, February 22nd 2016 - 08:43 UTC

  Unemployment in Brazil reaches 9% in Sept-Nov rolling quarter

  

  Unemployment in Brazil was 9% during the September-November rolling quarter, unchanged from the August-October period, the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics reported.

• Monday, February 22nd 2016 - 07:57 UTC

  UK campaign for the EU in/out referendum takes off; London mayor Johnson challenges PM Cameron

  

  British Prime Minister David Cameron will face MPs later as he presents his case for the UK remaining within a reformed European Union. The PM will outline details of last week's deal with EU leaders, which paved the way for him to call a referendum on EU membership on 23 June.

• Monday, February 22nd 2016 - 07:45 UTC

  Polls suggest Morales narrowly lost the re-re-reelection referendum; Bolivia opposition celebrations

  

  President Evo Morales of Bolivia has narrowly lost a referendum to allow him to stand for a fourth term in office, exit polls suggest. One poll suggests 52.3% voted against the proposal to amend the constitution, while another suggests it was 51%. However, Morales's deputy has predicted Bolivia's first head of state of indigenous origin could still win, as official results trickle in.