Politics

• Saturday, December 29th 2012 - 04:07 UTC

  Uruguay raises basic rate to 9.25%: “inflation the key risk of the economy”

  

  Uruguay’s Central bank raised its benchmark interest rate on Friday for the second time this year as policy makers struggle to bring inflation into the government’s target range. The IMF and local economists have warned about the need to “tackle inflation”, particularly since the budget’s fiscal deficit has soared in just twelve months from 0.4% of GDP to over 3% of GDP.

• Friday, December 28th 2012 - 08:08 UTC

  Defaulted bonds: Argentina makes its case before the New York Appeals court

  

  Argentina will be making a presentation before the US Court of Appeals for the second circuit, in Manhattan on Friday regarding Federal Judge Thomas Griesa recent ruling that Argentine defaulted bondholders must be paid simultaneously with those who accepted the restructured bonds.

• Friday, December 28th 2012 - 07:39 UTC

  CFK blames looting and violence on political and union groups interested in destabilization

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernández said on Thursday evening that the looting and ransacking of supermarkets that killed four people last week were provoked by “political and union sectors” to destabilize her Government.

• Friday, December 28th 2012 - 05:03 UTC

  PM Thatcher “never, never expected” Argentina to invade the Falklands; “it was such a stupid thing to do”

  

  The 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands by Argentina caught PM Margaret Thatcher by surprise, newly released government papers have shown. The then-prime minister only saw it was likely after getting “raw intelligence” two days before the Argentines landed.

• Thursday, December 27th 2012 - 20:18 UTC

  Setback for Cristina Fernandez: Supreme Court rejects two appeals on the Media Law

  

  The Argentine Supreme Court rejected on Thursday the Government’s ‘per saltum’ request to debate the constitutionality of two articles in the controversial Media Law which has the administration of President Cristina Fernandez clashing with the powerful Clarin group.

• Thursday, December 27th 2012 - 19:57 UTC

  First Kirchnerite minister to be sentenced to four years in prison

  

  Argentine former Economy Minister Felisa Miceli was sentenced to 4 years in prison after being found guilty of hiding and destroying evidence after a bag full of cash was found in her office in 2007; an incident which ended with her resigning from office.

• Thursday, December 27th 2012 - 19:49 UTC

  Maduro with more power on economic affairs; devaluation of the Bolivar in the agenda

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez delegated certain responsibilities in economic affairs to Vice-President Nicolas Maduro including the right to authorize debt sales and seize assets. The announcement comes at a moment when significant economic decisions must be taken following the profligate spending leading to last October’s election.

• Thursday, December 27th 2012 - 06:11 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez recommended to ease intensity and will cut short visit to Asia

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez has been recommended by her medical team to ease the ‘intensity’ of her activities and thus will leave Vietnam out of a tour which is planned for next month and includes the Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

• Thursday, December 27th 2012 - 06:05 UTC

  Argentine labour leader files complaint against officials for last week’s extended looting

  

  The head of Argentina’s organized labour, Hugo Moyano filed a complaint before a federal criminal court against cabinet chief Juan Manuel Abal Medina and Security Secretary Sergio Berni who openly and repeatedly accused the teamsters leader of being behind the extended rioting and looting of last week when four people were killed, hundreds injured and arrested and left millions of dollars in damages.

• Thursday, December 27th 2012 - 05:49 UTC

  China’s Industrial and Commercial bank, authorized to open a branch in Brazil

  

  The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd, the world's largest lender by market value, got the green light from Brazilian regulators to operate a subsidiary in the Latin America's largest economy, the lender said on Wednesday. Brazil's central bank approved the license on Dec 19.