Politics

• Monday, March 14th 2011 - 03:52 UTC

  Russian oligarchs turn Moscow to the world’s billionaire capital

  

  Russian oligarchs are back with a bang, making Moscow officially the world’s billionaire capital. Profiting from the recent commodity boom, the number of the country’s billionaires — most of whom built their empires during Russia’s anarchic 1990s — grew two thirds to 101, from last year’s 62, according to Forbes.

• Monday, March 14th 2011 - 01:52 UTC

  Under monitoring from EU Parliament, EU/Mercosur resume trade talks

  

  The European Union and Mercosur begin Monday a new round of negotiations in Brussels to reach an association and trade agreement although proposals for market access will not be on the table yet.

• Sunday, March 13th 2011 - 00:47 UTC

  Argentina forgets the US Air Force incident and says relations are “excellent”

  

  Relations between Argentina and the United States are ‘excellent’ said ultra ‘Kirchnerite’ lawmaker Carlos Kunkel who discarded as ‘interested parties’ versions indicating certain ‘discomfort’ in President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner administration with the coming visit of President Barack Obama to El Salvador, Chile and Brazil.

• Saturday, March 12th 2011 - 23:39 UTC

  Euro-zone tightens budget rules; bail-out facility will buy bonds directly from governments

  

  European leaders widened the scope of the Euro’s rescue fund, authorized it to buy government bonds and eased the terms of Greek bailout loans as they unexpectedly pushed through fresh measures to end the bloc’s debt crisis.

• Saturday, March 12th 2011 - 23:36 UTC

  Wisconsin limits collective bargaining rights for public sector workers

  

  US state of Wisconsin's governor signed into law sweeping limits on collective bargaining rights for public sector workers that have ignited a national debate over unions as other states weigh similar curbs.

• Saturday, March 12th 2011 - 23:26 UTC

  Arab League calls on UN Security Council for a no-fly zone over Libya

  

  The Arab League threw its support behind calls for a no-fly zone over Libya on Saturday as the Libyan military closed in on the opposition. The League urged on Saturday the United Nations to close Libyan airspace, as forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi continued using war planes to bombard the country's rebels.

• Saturday, March 12th 2011 - 23:12 UTC

  New Decolonization Committee president invited to visit Argentina

  

  Argentina is multiplying its international presence to boost the sovereignty claim over the Islas Malvinas, which next June 23, ‘as every year will be ratified’ by the UN Decolonization Committee, said Argentine ambassador at the UN Jorge Argüello according to a report from Telam, the official Argentine news agency.

• Saturday, March 12th 2011 - 23:04 UTC

  Cuban regime frees leading dissident who promises to keep protesting

  

  The Cuban government has freed one of the country's leading dissidents, but he says he will keep protesting against the government.

• Saturday, March 12th 2011 - 06:09 UTC

  Unasur splits two-year Secretary General post between Colombia and Venezuela

  

  Foreign Affairs ministers from the Union of South American Nations, Unasur, gathered in Ecuador Friday for their first meeting as a legally constituted organization agreed on the names to fill the post of Secretary General, vacant since the death of former Argentine President Nestor Kirchner.

• Saturday, March 12th 2011 - 05:48 UTC

  Bordering Spanish towns want to improve cooperation with Gibraltar

  

  Spanish towns neighbouring with Gibraltar have said they want to improve cooperation and day to day communications with the Rock. Isabel Beneroso president of the Mancomunidad de Municipios (Commonwealth of municipalities) visited Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Peter Caruana, the second PSOE politician to call within the space of a week.