Politics

Thursday, October 3rd 2013 - 21:46 UTC
Brazil industry production unexpectedly stalls in August

Brazilian industry production unexpectedly stalled in August, as factories reduced the output of consumer goods. Industrial output was unchanged in August after tumbling a revised 2.4% in July, the national statistics agency said in Rio de Janeiro.
Thursday, October 3rd 2013 - 21:42 UTC
Uruguay and Singapore sign open skies agreement including hub and regional flights

Singapore has signed a new Open Skies Agreement with Uruguay. The agreement allows designated airlines to fly between both countries and it is more liberal than conventional ones, said the Singapore Ministry of Transport in a statement on Wednesday.
Thursday, October 3rd 2013 - 21:24 UTC
Brazil offers Paraguay Mercosur chair, but apparently Argentina is not convinced

Brazil offered Paraguay the rotating chair of Mercosur as of next December, as part of an overall understanding to have the landlocked country return to the block, while accepting the incorporation of Venezuela as a full member of the group. Paraguay rejects Venezuela’s membership alleging it was done against the will of its Senate and in breach of national and international law and of the Mercosur charter.
Thursday, October 3rd 2013 - 19:23 UTC
Brazil, a giant but with “a lot of fat and much in the way of muscle”

Brazil, Latin America's largest economy is in dire need of structural reforms and reduced government bloat to fuel sustainable growth, analysts say. And this will not happen overnight and will take massive political will. A giant but it carries “a lot of fat and not much in the way of muscle”.
Thursday, October 3rd 2013 - 19:17 UTC
Moody’s lowers Brazil’s credit rating to stable from positive: rising debt and weak growth

Brazil’s currency Real declined from its highest level in two weeks after Moody’s Investors Service cited rising debt and weak growth in lowering its outlook on the country’s credit rating to stable from positive.
Thursday, October 3rd 2013 - 07:09 UTC
Argentina will challenge Uruguay’s decision to expand pulp mill production at The Hague Court of Justice

Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman has confirmed that Argentina will go before the international court of justice at The Hague over the decision of Uruguayan president José Mujica, who on Wednesday authorised increased production at the UPM (ex-Botnia) paper plant.
Thursday, October 3rd 2013 - 06:58 UTC
Spain proposes sharing embassies and consulates with Pacific Alliance countries

Spain has proposed sharing embassies, consulates and trade offices with its Latinamerican associate-members of the Pacific Alliance, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico. Foreign minister Jose Manuel García Margallo said that the idea of sharing some embassies and consulates already is operational in the European Union.
Thursday, October 3rd 2013 - 06:54 UTC
Russian oil giant wants to sell stake in Orinoco project and get out of Venezuela

Lukoil, Russia's second-biggest oil producer wants to sell its stake in a Russian consortium developing a large oil project in Venezuela because it is not a high priority, Lukoil's head said on Wednesday.
Thursday, October 3rd 2013 - 06:48 UTC
US and Venezuela in reciprocating game of expelling diplomats

The United States has expelled Venezuela's top diplomat and two others, after Venezuela kicked out three U.S. diplomats it accused of plotting sabotage. The Caracas government criticized the US response, saying the Venezuelan diplomats had not been meeting with groups opposed to US President Barack Obama.
Thursday, October 3rd 2013 - 06:39 UTC
Berlusconi U turn saves Italian coalition but could mark the beginning of his demise

Silvio Berlusconi backed away from his threat to topple Italy’s coalition government in a humiliating political climb down on Wednesday that could fatally weaken his 20-year grip on Italian politics. The billionaire former prime minister was forced into the last minute U-turn by a revolt that threatened to shatter his conservative party.