Politics

• Saturday, December 29th 2012 - 06:21 UTC

  Brazil names a candidate for the WTO Director General post

  

  Brazil on Friday named its World Trade Organization envoy Roberto Azevedo to succeed Pascal Lamy as head of the Geneva-based trade oversight body. Brazil's ambassador to the WTO since 2008, Azevedo has been tackling the country's cotton subsidy dispute with the United States.

• Saturday, December 29th 2012 - 06:19 UTC

  Brazil central bank injects more liquidity by lowering reserve requirements

  

  Brazil's central bank announced it would cut reserve requirements on demand deposits under specific conditions to free up around 15 billion Reais (7.3 billion dollars) for lending in a move aimed at boosting investment in the stagnating economy.

• Saturday, December 29th 2012 - 04:12 UTC

  Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff health ‘within normal levels’

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who survived lymphoma cancer in 2009, was pronounced healthy by doctors after a routine exam. Rousseff's health was “within normal levels,” according to a statement released by her office following the check-up at the Sirio-Libanes Hospital in Sao Paulo, one of South America's leading cancer treatment centers.

• 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.