Politics

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 13:31 UTC

  Brazil cuts defence budget but purchase of 36 new jets remains on the agenda

  

  Brazil's government will cut 4,2 billion Brazilian Real (approximately 2.4 billion USD) from its 15.17 billion defense budget this year under proposed fiscal tightening, Defense Minister Nelson Jobim announced this week.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 06:18 UTC

  Argentine Justice takes on the incident of the US Air Force plane cargo

  

  Argentine Judge Ezequiel Berón de Astrada requested on Tuesday Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman; Security Minister Nilda Garré; and the US Embassy “all the information they have” on the incident regarding the US Air Force plane seized in Ezeiza international airport.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 06:14 UTC

  US President Obama visits Brazil March 19 and 20

  

  The Brazilian government confirmed on Tuesday that US President Barak Obama will make an official visit to Brazil on March 19 and 20.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 06:08 UTC

  Bolivia will appeal to Central bank reserves to stockpile food staples

  

  Bolivia prepared to tap its record 10 billion US dollars in central bank reserves to help boost agricultural production and stockpile food staples as a hedge against a looming global “food crisis” Finance Minister Luis Arce said.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 01:17 UTC

  More Argentine measures “to preserve re-industrialization process”

  

  Argentina extended the application of LNA non-automatic licenses to a list of new imported products, which include metallurgical products, electronics, some fabrics, high-range automobiles, bicycles and bicycle parts.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 01:09 UTC

  Rio de Janeriro’s top cop forced to step down in midst of corruption scandal

  

  The head of Río de Janeiro's state's civil police quit, becoming the latest victim of a drugs and corruption scandal that has shocked the police in Brazil's second city.

• Wednesday, February 16th 2011 - 00:37 UTC

  French conservatives attack IMF Strauss-Khan who is eyeing Sarkozy’s post

  

  France's economy minister Tuesday urged IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn to stay at the global lender, as French conservatives sought to impede his potential bid for the French presidency next year.

• Tuesday, February 15th 2011 - 23:02 UTC

  Worldwide in 2010, 44 journalists were killed; most vulnerable local reporters

  

  At least 44 journalists were killed worldwide because of their jobs last year, with Pakistan the deadliest country to work in, a rights group said Tuesday.

• Tuesday, February 15th 2011 - 20:17 UTC

  UK/Spain holds talks on ways to re-launch trilateral dialogue with Gibraltar

  

  The Spanish media revealed that Spain’s Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez will be in London this coming Thursday to meet with her UK counterpart William Hague for a bilateral meeting on various international issues including Gibraltar.

• Tuesday, February 15th 2011 - 19:26 UTC

  France warns it wants EU/Mercosur farmers subject to the same “strict” rules

  

  France warned Tuesday that it is following closely European Union/Mercosur trade talks to ensure that farmers from both blocks are strictly subjected to the same rules.