Politics

• Friday, June 1st 2012 - 02:20 UTC

  Spain calls on US and IMF for political support in helping the banking system

  

  The United States and Spain discussed the possibility that direct loans from Europe's emergency fund could be a solution for ailing European banks, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said Thursday.

• Friday, June 1st 2012 - 02:16 UTC

  Italy hugely exposed to the Euro-debt turmoil and to Spanish contagion

  

  Italy is hugely exposed to the risk of contagion from the debt turmoil in the euro zone, said Prime Minister Mario Monti, suggesting the European Central Bank take action to help cool borrowing costs.

• Friday, June 1st 2012 - 01:24 UTC

  Argentine top lawmaker admits having his savings in dollars “and I won’t sell them”

  

  A top Argentine lawmaker came on stage (and lost his temper) when he had to explain why his savings are in dollars after the government of President Cristina Fernandez, including him personally, launched not only strong restriction policies on dollar purchases, but told the population to forget about dollars and start thinking in pesos.

• Thursday, May 31st 2012 - 15:59 UTC

  “Self determination, only way that leads to a peaceful, permanent solution of Falklands’ dispute”

  

  Self-determination is the only solution that will lead to a permanent, peaceful solution to the Falklands’ sovereignty dispute with Argentina said Falkland Islands lawmaker Roger Edwards addressing a regional seminar of the UN Decolonization Committee in Ecuador.

• Thursday, May 31st 2012 - 06:11 UTC

  Insulza hopeful OAS assembly will reach a consensus on the Malvinas issue

  

  OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said he expects a consensus is reached on the Falklands/Malvinas issue next week when the Organization of American States general assembly, following the lack of agreement at the last Summit of the Americas in Colombia.

• Thursday, May 31st 2012 - 06:07 UTC

  Natural resources rich Brazil plans to increase defence spending to 2% of GDP

  

  Defence Minister Celso Amorim said on Wednesday Brazil’s growing need to protect its borders, the Amazon rainforest, and massive offshore oil discoveries would lead it to gradually increase defence spending by a quarter to reach roughly 2% of the country’s GDP.

• Thursday, May 31st 2012 - 06:01 UTC

  Confirmed: Cristina Fernandez will attend C24 meeting on Falklands next June 14

  

  President Cristina Fernandez will be attending next June 14 the UN Decolonization meeting in New York where she is expected to make a strong case for Argentina’s claim over the disputed Falklands/Malvinas Islands.

• Thursday, May 31st 2012 - 05:52 UTC

  Labour Organization warns “Euro zone extreme policies could produce extreme reactions”

  

  Extreme policies to tackle the crisis in the Euro zone could produce extreme reactions, the outgoing Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Juan Somavia, told the delegates to the 101st International Labour Conference (ilo.org/ilc) that opened in Geneva on Wednesday 30 May.

• Thursday, May 31st 2012 - 05:46 UTC

  Brazil cuts interest rate for the seventh time to a record low of 8.50%

  

  Brazil's central bank cut interest rates on Wednesday for the seventh straight time to a record low 8.50%, moving into uncharted territory in a bid to shield a fragile recovery from a gloomy global outlook.

• Thursday, May 31st 2012 - 02:46 UTC

  “Dollar clamp” cases will be dealt in the courts warns Argentine Chief Justice

  

  In spite of the barrage of statements is support of currency exchange controls (or clamped dollar) implemented by the Argentine government, the Supreme Court chief justice admitted that it could soon have to deal with complaints.