Politics

Friday, August 2nd 2013 - 03:39 UTC
Rajoy admits in Parliament mishandling corruption scandal, but won’t resign

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy apologised on Thursday for mishandling a major corruption scandal, but denied he or his conservative People's Party, PP, accepted illegal payments and rejected opposition calls to step down.
Friday, August 2nd 2013 - 03:33 UTC
Brazil June public accounts improve supported by state and local governments’ surpluses

Brazil's twelve-month public sector primary budget surplus widened in June amid a robust surplus from state and local governments, helping bring the country's nominal deficit slightly narrower.
Friday, August 2nd 2013 - 03:26 UTC
Brazil's Rousseff announces billions to improve Sao Paulo transport system

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff moved quickly this week to improve bus services in the metropolis of Sao Paulo, where protests over a fare increase in June triggered an outburst of national discontent that battered her popularity and questioned the country’s infrastructure for two major world events in 2014 and 2016.
Friday, August 2nd 2013 - 03:20 UTC
UN narcotics board says Uruguay’s marijuana bill is contrary to international treaties

A United Nations narcotics body on Thursday expressed alarm about a bill passed by Uruguay’s Lower House that would legalize marijuana.
Friday, August 2nd 2013 - 03:09 UTC
Argentine opposition announces the ‘real life’ GDP growth index: 0.5% in the first quarter

Several Argentine opposition groups have started publishing their own GDP index, (as they do with inflation) based on the average of data processed by private consultants which are exposed to the intimidation of President Cristina Fernandez administration officials.
Friday, August 2nd 2013 - 03:01 UTC
Argentina’s energy challenges according to The Economist: Flogging a dead cow

The Economist in its latest printed edition addresses Argentina’s challenges in the energy field including the seizure of a majority stake in YPF from Spain’s Repsol and the latest agreement with US oil company Chevron to exploit shale oil and gas.
Friday, August 2nd 2013 - 02:56 UTC
Overall feeling that corruption in the Americas in the rise, says watchdog group

From the US capital Washington D.C. to Caracas, people throughout the Americas feel that corruption in sectors of society is on the rise, according to a survey from the watchdog group, Transparency International.
Friday, August 2nd 2013 - 02:51 UTC
US ‘extremely disappointed’ with Russian asylum to leaker Snowden

White House officials say they are “extremely disappointed” by Russia’s decision to grant asylum for one year to Edward Snowden, who is accused of leaking U.S. government secrets. Officials are deciding how to respond.
Friday, August 2nd 2013 - 02:29 UTC
Uruguay extends another 12 months VAT benefits for foreign tourists

Uruguay extended for another twelve months the VAT bonus for those tourists who pay for purchases, lodging and rents with debit cards. The measure was announced this week by Deputy cabinet chief Diego Canepa following a full ministerial meeting and in anticipation of the coming 2013/14 summer season.
Thursday, August 1st 2013 - 04:09 UTC
“Not even the Pope could bring Brazil and Paraguay together”, said O’Globo

Influential Latin American newspapers have been extremely critical of Brazilian diplomacy in its unsuccessful attempts to ‘subdue Paraguay’, while at the same praising the landlocked country’s dignity in demanding from Mercosur respect and compliance with the rule of the law.