Politics

Friday, December 18th 2015 - 08:31 UTC
Judge lifts suspension of Whatsapp and makes 100 million Brazilians happy

The day after a Brazilian judge ordered the suspension of the Whatsapp cell-phone chat and voice service for 48 hours, cutting off millions of users from one of the country’s most popular communication services, another judge overturned the ban.
Friday, December 18th 2015 - 08:09 UTC
US and Havana deal on regular flights, a boom for tourism, but does Cuba have the infrastructure

United States and Cuba have reached a deal to allow as many as 110 regular airline flights a day, allowing a surge of American travel to Cuba that could eventually flood the island with hundreds of thousands more U.S. visitors a year, officials said Thursday on the anniversary of detente between the foes.
Friday, December 18th 2015 - 08:01 UTC
Brazil's budget targets ignored by Congress; Finance minister could resign

Brazil’s Congress on Thursday approved a 2016 budget with surplus targets lower than what Finance Minister Joaquim Levy wanted, a day after the country lost an investment-grade credit rating on concerns about fiscal restraint.
Friday, December 18th 2015 - 07:55 UTC
South America to contract 0.8% and Central America will expand 4.6% in 2016, says UN office

Latin American and Caribbean economies will contract 0.4% on average in 2015 and will grow just 0.2% next year, as a result of the complex external scenario, according to new projections unveiled on Thursday by the UN Latin America and Caribbean Economic commission, ECLAC. Estimates for next year are that Central America will expand 4.6% while South America will again contract 0.8%.
Thursday, December 17th 2015 - 10:14 UTC
Thatcher's possessions raised US$ 5m; ministerial box auctioned for £242,500

The sale of late British leader Margaret Thatcher's possessions has raised £3.3 million ($5 million), auction house Christie's said on Tuesday. A model of an American bald eagle given to Thatcher by close ally and former US president Ronald Reagan fetched the highest price for an individual item at £266,500 after a flurry of bidding in person, online and by phone.
Thursday, December 17th 2015 - 08:02 UTC
Brazil's prosecutor asks Justices to strip Lower House speaker of his seat

Brazil's attorney general went to the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking to strip the leader of the House of Deputies of his seat. House Speaker Eduardo Cunha is the nemesis of embattled and unpopular President Dilma Rousseff — and earlier this month opened the door to begin impeachment proceedings against her.
Thursday, December 17th 2015 - 07:46 UTC
Major WTO deal cuts tariffs on information technology products

More than 50 members of the World Trade Organization signed an agreement on Wednesday to remove import tariffs on 201 information technology products, marking the first major global tariff-cutting deal in 19 years.
Thursday, December 17th 2015 - 07:33 UTC
Congress/Obama deal includes voting for the long stalled IMF quota reforms

The United States Congress has taken a step closer to granting long-awaited approval to reforms of the International Monetary Fund that would give China and other emerging economies a greater voice in shaping the institution's policies.
Thursday, December 17th 2015 - 07:25 UTC
Argentina recalls UN Resolution 2065 fiftieth anniversary and renews call for Falklands' negotiations

Argentina's Foreign ministry recalled that on 16 December the country commemorates the 50th anniversary of UN General Assembly Resolution 2065, the first referred to the question of the Malvinas Islands.
Thursday, December 17th 2015 - 06:50 UTC
Argentina lifts foreign currency controls and let's Peso float, as of Thursday

Argentina announced on Wednesday it was lifting currency controls and would allow the peso to float when markets open on Thursday, setting the stage for a devaluation, following pledges by new president Mauricio Macri for reforms to spur economic growth.