Politics

Friday, January 29th 2016 - 04:31 UTC
Brazil unveils US$ 20bn credit plan to revive economy; 'raid' on workers' pension funds

Brazil will release 83 billion reais (US$20.4 billion) in new credit from state-run banks for farmers, builders and other businesses suffering in a shrinking economy, resuming stimulus efforts it had largely eschewed in last year's austerity drive.
Friday, January 29th 2016 - 04:25 UTC
CONMEBOL unanimous support for Infantino; crucial meeting of African football

Gianni Infantino the UEFA secretary general on Thursday picked up unanimous support for his FIFA presidency bid from the ten members of CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football. Also on Thursday, Trinidad & Tobago endorsed Infantino. On Monday, the seven federations of Central American football announced their support.
Friday, January 29th 2016 - 03:58 UTC
Petrobras corruption uncovers beach-side apartments used as bribes and money laundering

Beach-side apartments in Brazil may have been used as bribes and to launder money for members of the ruling Workers’ Party (PT), police and prosecutors said as they carried out six arrests and executed 15 search warrants in four cities.
Friday, January 29th 2016 - 03:54 UTC
Pope Francis receives Macri at the Vatican 27 February

Pope Francis will be receiving President Mauricio Macri on February 27, the first official meeting between both leaders since Macri took office in December. The meeting was confirmed by government sources.
Friday, January 29th 2016 - 03:45 UTC
WHO admits as possible four million cases of Zika; emergency meeting Monday

The World Health Organization (WHO) expects the Zika virus, which is spreading through the Americas, to affect between three million and four million people, a disease expert said on Thursday. WHO's director-general said the spread of the mosquito-borne disease had gone from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions.
Friday, January 29th 2016 - 03:28 UTC
Maduro claims he will not rest until a Celac summit is held in Malvinas Argentinas

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro was the only leader to take time during the recent Celac summit, to make a public statement on the Falklands/Malvinas pledging full support for Argentina's sovereignty claim over the Islands and promising not to rest until “the dream of Malvinas Argentinas comes true”.
Thursday, January 28th 2016 - 07:14 UTC
Petrobras scandal leads to real estate transactions investigation

Brazilian police and prosecutors said Wednesday that as part of their investigation into a massive corruption scheme centered on Petrobras they were looking into whether some of the money diverted from the state-controlled oil company was laundered through real-estate transactions coordinated by a Panamanian-based law firm.
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.