Politics

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 07:09 UTC

  Chile could be next country to recognize Palestine with borders prior to 1967

  

  The decisions by the governments of Brazil and Argentina last week to recognize an independent Palestinian state with borders prior to the 1967 Six Day War has prompted criticism from the United States and intense lobbying in Santiago de Chile.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 07:05 UTC

  Euro zone agrees (strict conditionality) bail out permanent mechanism

  

  European Union leaders have agreed to set up a permanent mechanism to bail out any member state whose debt problems threaten the 16-nation Euro zone.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 07:01 UTC

  Asia’s emerging giants move closer; agree trade goal of 100 billion USD by 2015

  

  India and China agreed to raise the bilateral trade to 100 billion US dollars by 2015, step up investments and permit banks of other countries to open branches and representative offices.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 06:56 UTC

  WikiLeaks Assange free on bail and tagged moves to ten bedroom mansion

  

  WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was granted bail Thursday by the High Court in London and will move from a prison cell in Wandsworth to a country retreat in Norfolk when he is released from custody.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 06:45 UTC

  Mercosur summit launches ambitious action plan to ensure customs union

  

  Mercosur leaders meeting in Brazil launched a plan to adopt common trade, investment and immigration policies to help underpin unprecedented economic growth in the region.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 06:42 UTC

  Paraguayan industry calls Lula da Silva an “arrogant hypocrite”

  

  The Paraguayan Industrial Union, UIP, called Brazilian president Lula da Silva an “arrogant hypocrite” for making promises he never honoured, and attacked President Fernando Lugo for generating ‘overblown fantasy expectations’.

• Friday, December 17th 2010 - 00:04 UTC

  Lula da Silva named “Gays’ Father Christmas” because “you’re a good guy”

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva was named “Gays’ Father Christmas” by the country’s Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Travesties and Transsexuals (ABGLT) organization during a meeting of social groupings at the Planalto Palace (Government House) in Brasilia

• Thursday, December 16th 2010 - 23:59 UTC

  China and Argentina sign Tax information exchange agreement

  

  China and Argentina signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) in order to improve transparency in the two countries’ bilateral trade and investment.

• Thursday, December 16th 2010 - 23:56 UTC

  IMF votes aid loan to Ireland, but open to discussions with a new government

  

  The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 22.5 billion Euros loan for Ireland and said it was open to re-negotiating parts of the bailout package with a new government provided its overall targets were adhered to.

• Thursday, December 16th 2010 - 18:28 UTC

  Argentina’s top businessman warns about inflation and Chinese investments

  

  Argentina’s most influential businessman warned about the “inflationary escalade” which, if not contained can lead to an unfavourable climate for investments. Paolo Rocca, Techint group CEO made the statements during an entrepreneurs’ forum where he called for “business responsibility”, “clear rules of the game”, “transparency” and questioned the landing of Chinese oil corporations in Argentina.