Politics

• Tuesday, February 25th 2014 - 04:21 UTC

  US embassy support for Argentina's move to orthodox economics

  

  The US embassy's business adviser in Buenos Aires, Kevin Sullivan, has welcomed negotiations between the Argentine government and Spanish corporation Repsol over the expropriation of YPF, as well as further talks with the Paris Club over the payment of outstanding debt commitments.

• Tuesday, February 25th 2014 - 04:13 UTC

  Pope overhauls Vatican finances and names Secretariat for the Economy

  

  Pope Francis has taken his boldest step yet to overhaul the Vatican's scandal-plagued finances, creating a new department with broad powers to oversee all of its economic and administrative affairs, the Vatican announced on Monday. The Secretariat for the Economy will answer directly to the pope and will be headed by Australian Cardinal George Pell, currently the archbishop of Sydney.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 22:28 UTC

  Brazil and EU agree to lay an undersea cable to avoid US internet surveillance

  

  Brazil and the European Union agreed on Monday to lay an undersea communications cable from Lisbon to Fortaleza to reduce Brazil's reliance on the United States after Washington spied on Brasilia.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 22:19 UTC

  Rousseff and Barroso optimistic about Mercosur/EU trade talks scheduled to begin 21 March

  

  Trade negotiations between the European Union and Mercosur could move quickly once a technical meeting next month has taken place, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said after a meeting on Monday with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in Brussels and the European Council president Herman Van Rompuy.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 06:45 UTC

  Italy experiments with a new prime minister and 16-member cabinet

  

  Center-left leader Matteo Renzi took office on Saturday as Italy's youngest prime minister, facing pressure to show immediate results after he forced out his predecessor over the slow pace of economic reforms.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 06:42 UTC

  Sao Paulo protest against World Cup and demand more hospitals and schools

  

  Brazilian police used tear gas and made an estimated 230 arrests on Saturday evening to disperse a protest in Sao Paulo ahead of the World Cup. Among those arrested in Brazil's business hub, which will host the opening match of the World Cup on June 12, were five journalists, O Estado de Sao Paulo daily reported.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 06:40 UTC

  World top economies pledge 2% growth in next five years and millions of jobs

  

  The world's top economies have embraced a goal of generating more than 2 trillion dollars in additional output over five years while creating tens of millions of new jobs, while also promising more transparency in monetary policy to allay the concerns of emerging economies.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 05:14 UTC

  Rousseff consolidates as favorite to win re-election in October

  

  Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff remains the favorite to win re-election in October with a comfortable lead over possible contenders, according to a poll published Sunday. The Datafolha polling institute said Rousseff has recovered much of the support she had lost in the wake of mass street protests in the middle of last year.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 05:00 UTC

  Insulza suggests 'outside players' could help reach an agreement in Venezuela

  

  Organization of American States, OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza has suggested the participation of 'outside players' in Venezuela to try and lower the pressure and consequences of the current situation in the country. Insulza made the suggestion in a letter published by several newspapers from the region, but underlining that it is Venezuelans that must reach an understanding to overcome the situation.

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 04:49 UTC

  Venezuelan situation could delay the Mercosur summit scheduled for March

  

  The Mercosur summit is still scheduled for March but given the current situation in Venezuela, host of the event, “there could be another delay” admitted Paraguay's Foreign minister Eladio Loizaga, who added that there are permanent contacts between members countries to try and avoid another scenario.