Politics

Tuesday, July 9th 2013 - 01:50 UTC
Paraguay not interested in Mercosur if Venezuela holds the chair, says top official

Paraguay called for practical sense from its Mercosur partners Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay to try and overcome the current impasse which could lead to a rift if Venezuela occupies the chair of the group at this week’s summit in Montevideo. Paraguay does not recognize Venezuela’s full membership because it was decided in its absence.
Tuesday, July 9th 2013 - 00:09 UTC
Brazil drops the idea of Cuban doctors and will hire physicians from Spain and Portugal

The Brazilian government, under pressure to improve public health services, has dropped plans to import a contingent of Cuban doctors and is instead looking to hire physicians in Spain and Portugal, the Health Ministry said on Monday.
Tuesday, July 9th 2013 - 00:01 UTC
Brazilian Congress wants to question ambassador about US surveillance in the country

Lawmakers in Brazil said Monday they want to question Washington's ambassador here about revelations that the United States has collected and stored the e-mail and telephone records of millions of Brazilians.
Monday, July 8th 2013 - 07:11 UTC
Opinion polls are not enthusiastic about Cristina Fernandez ahead of October mid-term election

Five weeks ahead of primaries and three months away from mid term congressional election, public opinion polls indicate that President Cristina Fernandez could be heading to a serious defeat, particularly in the province of Buenos Aires, which with 37% of the national vote is decisive for any victory pretension.
Monday, July 8th 2013 - 07:06 UTC
Teamsters bring Argentina to a stop and challenge fiscal policy and income tax

Argentina’s teamsters union headed by the powerful leader Hugo Moyano, a former ally of the government and currently one of her most aggressive adversaries, has declared a national strike on Monday which in practical terms means the country is in full campaign ahead of the mid term October election when President Cristina Fernandez will try by all means to retain control over Congress.
Monday, July 8th 2013 - 06:46 UTC
Over a third of Argentine population in poverty conditions says food and nutrition report

At least 17.8% of the Argentine population lives in indigence conditions, taking as reference a ‘Healthy Food Basket’ which estimates family monthly needs in 3.700 Pesos which is more that five times the official stats office Indec reference sum of 730 Pesos.
Monday, July 8th 2013 - 06:29 UTC
Argentine training frigate ARA Libertad at last moment suspends annual trip

Argentina’s flagship the tall mast frigate ARA Libertad which last year was retained in Ghana for 77 days, unexpectedly suspended until 2014 the beginning of its annual instruction trip which was scheduled to leave Buenos Aires this weekend.
Monday, July 8th 2013 - 06:16 UTC
Argentina blocks prosecutor from informing US congress on Iran ‘infiltration’

Argentina’s Prosecutor General Alejandra Gils Carbo has prevented AMIA case Special Prosecutor Alberto Nisman from attending the US Congress. Nisman was expected to expose the 500-page indictment accusing Iran of allegedly “infiltrating” Latin America to establish “intelligence networks”.
Monday, July 8th 2013 - 04:13 UTC
Brazil demands an explanation from the US regarding electronic surveillance of its citizens and companies

Brazil will demand an explanation from the United States over reports its citizens' electronic communications have been under surveillance by US spy agencies for at least a decade, foreign minister Antonio Patriota said on Sunday.
Saturday, July 6th 2013 - 12:20 UTC
Gibraltar calls on London to complain about Spanish 'buzzing' jets

Britain and Spain faced another round of diplomatic tension on Wednesday night after four Spanish jets “buzzed” over the BOT Gibraltar, causing delay to a commercial flight. Reports collected by the Gibraltar Chronicle indicate eyewitnesses said the Matador jets flew in from behind Los Barrios and very close to the north end of the Rock.