Politics

• Saturday, August 8th 2015 - 10:42 UTC

  Petrobras profits plunge 89% in 2Q; underperforming assets dumped

  

  Brazilian state-led oil company Petrobras said its second-quarter net income plunged 89% after a one-time charge for underperforming assets that caught analysts off guard. The 1.28-billion-real charge was taken as Petrobras' new executives and board of directors try to control the company's $132 billion debt, the oil-industry's largest, by preparing up to $15bn of assets for sale by the end of 2016.

• Saturday, August 8th 2015 - 10:14 UTC

  Germany rocked by debate on freedom of the press and government influence over the courts

  

  Journalists have been accused of treason; a chief prosecutor fired; and we have witnessed the unedifying spectacle of government ministers scrambling to get out of the firing line after popular outrage. But the scandal rocking Germany's political establishment isn't about sleaze or corruption but rather whether a little-known website can publish documents already publicly discussed.

• Saturday, August 8th 2015 - 09:44 UTC

  FAO pressing countries to ratify agreement on illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing

  

  A growing number of countries are ratifying an international agreement to combat illegal fishing, fueling interest in how best to implement the instrument. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is estimated to strip between $10 billion and $23 billion from the global economy, and their impacts undermine the way fish stocks are managed to make it a double concern around the world.

• Saturday, August 8th 2015 - 09:20 UTC

  Brazil's July inflation climbed to 9.56%, powered by electricity bills, up 57.8%

  

  Brazil's annual inflation rate climbed to 9.56% in July, the highest level since 2003, official data showed Friday. Prices are being driven higher by the rising cost of electricity -- up 57.8% in the past 12 months -- as well as increasingly expensive housing, food and beverages, and health care.

• Saturday, August 8th 2015 - 08:54 UTC

  Argentine embassy in US launches website on the struggle with 'vulture funds'

  

  The Argentine Embassy in the United States has launched a website to explain the conflict between Argentina and holdout investors commonly referred to as “vulture funds”. The website explains the origins of the conflict, its history, and provides documents and expert opinions on the subject. Its virtual library has until now over 200 documents and 100 independent sources.

• Saturday, August 8th 2015 - 08:30 UTC

  Argentine mandatory primaries on Sunday: 32 million entitled to vote

  

  Electoral silence has started ahead of the PASO primary elections (Open Simultaneous, Mandatory Primaries) that will take place on Sunday when Argentines will cast their ballots to choose their candidates to compete in October’s general run, including the successor of president Cristina Fernandez.

• Saturday, August 8th 2015 - 08:22 UTC

  Bank of England keeps rates unchanged; little talk of rise because of China and Greece

  

  UK interest rates have been held at 0.5% again by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). Members voted 8-1 to keep rates on hold - the first time for months the decision has not been unanimous, with Ian McCafferty voting for an increase.

• Friday, August 7th 2015 - 08:17 UTC

  Countdown for Dilma: two thirds of Brazilians support impeachment; 16 August 'D' day

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's approval ratings have struck rock bottom with nearly seven out of ten Brazilians in favor of having Congress begin impeachment proceedings against the beleaguered leader of Latin America's largest economy, according to the latest opinion poll release. A nationwide rally calling her for resignation is planned for August 16.

• Friday, August 7th 2015 - 07:54 UTC

  Falklands-born candidate says he has sufficient credentials to be a Mercosur parliament member

  

  Falkland Islands born and pre-candidate for the Mercosur Parliament in representation of a Tierra del Fuego political party, Alejandro Betts, underlined his diplomatic experience in international forums and meetings with 30 presentations, including those at the annual UN Decolonization Committee or C24 in New York.

• Friday, August 7th 2015 - 07:38 UTC

  Argentina's worst terrorist (AMIA, 1994) attack trial takes off

  

  Argentina's Cabinet Chief Anibal Fernández hoped the AMIA cover-up trial that began on Thursday in Buenos Aires enables to find a “hint on the local connection” that paved the way for Argentina’s worst terrorist attack to take place 21 years ago.