Politics

• Friday, August 31st 2012 - 05:18 UTC

  Faklands’ referendum planned for March; South American observers to be invited

  

  The Falkland Islands Executive Council has officially approved that a referendum be held on the question of the political status of the Falkland Islands and announced that the Electoral Commission has agreed to assist with developing the form of the question and the wording and give a bespoke advisory service including providing guidance.

• Friday, August 31st 2012 - 05:08 UTC

  Argentina surprised by Germany, which voted against granting a loan at the IDB

  

  “We’re a free country with dignity and national pride; we are nobody’s employee or subordinate” challenged Argentine president Cristina Fernandez after it was revealed that the US, Spain and Germany at the Inter American Development bank (IDB) had voted against granting the country a loan.

• Friday, August 31st 2012 - 05:03 UTC

  Argentine credit card holders’ buying abroad charged 15% income tax advance

  

  Argentine credit card purchases abroad will be charged with an additional 15% income tax advance, AFIP tax agency reported on Thursday. The extra amount will be deductible from the income tax and the personal assets tax.

• Friday, August 31st 2012 - 01:44 UTC

  Chile ratifies support for Argentine Malvinas; meets regional solidarity group

  

  Foreign minister Alfredo Moreno ratified Chilean support for Argentina’s sovereignty claim over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands during a meeting with a delegation from Andean countries belonging to the “Solidarity Group with Malvinas”.

• Friday, August 31st 2012 - 01:33 UTC

  Iran denies interest in nuclear weapons, but Egypt spoils the party

  

  Iran has no interest in nuclear weapons but will keep pursuing peaceful nuclear energy, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told heads of state from developing countries in Tehran.

• Friday, August 31st 2012 - 01:20 UTC

  China pledges support for Euro-zone; orders 50 planes from Europe Airbus

  

  China has signed a deal to buy 50 planes worth 3.5bn dollars from Europe's Airbus. The agreement is part of a slew of trade deals signed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the start of a two-day visit to China.

• Friday, August 31st 2012 - 01:10 UTC

  EC with “no powers to intervene” in Spain/Gibraltar bay fishing dispute

  

  The European Commission has told a South West of England and Gibraltar Member of the European Parliament that it has no powers to intervene in the ongoing standoffs at sea between local law enforcement agencies and the Guardia Civil.

• Friday, August 31st 2012 - 01:01 UTC

  Germany wants Google to pay fees to the media for displaying news headlines

  

  The German government approved this week a controversial bill that would require Internet search engine companies such as Google to pay fees to the German media for displaying news headlines on their websites.

• Friday, August 31st 2012 - 00:56 UTC

  Piñera promised an end to police brutality during student protest marches

  

  Chilean President Sebastian Piñera said that his government would not tolerate police brutality. The remarks came after the police was accused of mistreating student protesters who were demanding educational reforms.

• Friday, August 31st 2012 - 00:49 UTC

  Brazilian federal workers accept proposal and return to work next Monday

  

  Unions representing 90% of Brazil's striking federal public workers have agreed to return to work on Monday, accepting tough terms set by President Dilma Rousseff, who insisted on putting fiscal discipline over the demands of her own political base.