Politics

• Friday, March 30th 2012 - 22:54 UTC

  Argentina reiterates ‘serious suspicions’ about UK nuclear weapons in Falklands’ region

  

  Defence Minister Arturo Puricelli reiterated Argentina’s “militarization” claims in the Falkland Islands and highlighted “serious suspicions” that Britain is using nuclear weapons in the South Atlantic region.

• Friday, March 30th 2012 - 20:18 UTC

  Argentina blasted at WTO for its trade-restrictive measures and lack of transparency

  

  Argentina received a barrage of criticism at the World Trade Organization on Friday where the United States, European Union, Japan and 10 other countries accused it of tying imports up in red tape. They also requested Argentina provide a detailed written explanation of why in its view “these measures and practices are consistent with WTO rules”.

• Friday, March 30th 2012 - 16:58 UTC

  Spain announced toughest austerity budget since the return of democracy

  

  Spain is cutting 27bn Euros from its budget this year as part of one of the toughest austerity drives in its history. Changes will include freezing public sector workers' salaries and reducing departmental budgets by 16.9%.

• Friday, March 30th 2012 - 16:49 UTC

  German V2 rocket from World War II found in east coast of England

  

  A German V2 rocket from World War II has been found nose down in the mud flats at Harwich Harbour in the east coast of England. Royal Navy divers said it was buried vertically with about 1.5m of its tail exposed at low tide.

• Friday, March 30th 2012 - 07:54 UTC

  For Uruguay “there is not blockade of Malvinas by any country of the continent”

  

  Uruguay reiterated its full and traditional support for Argentina’s sovereignty claims over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands, but at the same time underlined that “there is no blockade to the inhabitants of the Malvinas Islands by any country of the continent”, and clearly differentiated the Cuban and Malvinas blockades.

• Friday, March 30th 2012 - 07:51 UTC

  Rajoy challenged by general strike, recession and more loss of jobs

  

  As Spain heads for its second recession since 2010 and unemployment stands at 23%, workers angry at a labour reform the government calls an “unstoppable” necessity staged a general strike on Thursday, bringing factories and ports to a standstill and igniting flashes of violence on the streets.

• Friday, March 30th 2012 - 07:42 UTC

  US Judge criticizes Argentine ‘continued intransigence’ in refusing to honour lawful debts

  

  A US judge threw out claims by bondholders on up to 2.21 billion dollars of Argentine funds held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, but criticized the country’s “continued intransigence” in refusing to pay creditors holding defaulted debt.

• Friday, March 30th 2012 - 07:39 UTC

  Brazil monetary authorities suggest benchmark rate could fall to 9% (from 9.75%)

  

  Brazil's Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee (Copom) reaffirmed the likelihood it will continue to cut rates and at the same time perhaps put into question its commitment to the 4.5% inflation target for 2013, according to the quarterly inflation report released Thursday morning.

• Friday, March 30th 2012 - 07:25 UTC

  Close links with Latam and steadfast commitment to Falklands, announced Hague

  

  The UK is determined to strengthen relations with Latin America and equally committed to the Falkland Islands right to self-determination, said Foreign Secretary William Hague during a major foreign policy speech at banquet.

• Friday, March 30th 2012 - 07:11 UTC

  Inflation notoriously above the target range, admits Uruguay’s central bank

  

  The Central Bank of Uruguay left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 8.75% on Thursday, saying the current level is consistent with a restrictive monetary policy as Uruguayan authorities stubbornly battle high inflation.