Politics

Thursday, August 20th 2009 - 16:05 UTC
Argentina and Brazil moving towards “financial integration”

Argentina and Brazil signed Wednesday an agreement to swap domestic currencies for the equivalent of a total 1.8 billion US dollars, which could be used to increase international reserves. The accord was described as an important effort towards “financial integration” in the framework of Mercosur.
Thursday, August 20th 2009 - 15:54 UTC
Brazilian Senate corruption scandal closing in on President Lula da Silva

A former high ranking officer from Brazil’s Tax Office directly accused President Lula da Silva’s handpicked candidate for October 2010 presidential election of trying to stop a probe into the finances of the Senate’s chief family.
Thursday, August 20th 2009 - 15:46 UTC
Buenos Aires tragic rock club manager convicted to 20 years in prison

Argentina's Court of Justice on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a club owner to 20 years in prison for a deadly club fire that killed 194 people but absolved the band that had played the night of the tragedy.
Thursday, August 20th 2009 - 05:06 UTC
Arbitrary arrests and beatings in Honduras, claims Amnesty report

In the seven weeks since the military-backed bloodless coup in Honduras, several hundred people protesting against the de facto government have been arbitrarily arrested and beaten by government forces, a new Amnesty International report says.
Thursday, August 20th 2009 - 04:59 UTC
UK Conservative MPs want salaries doubled to £ 130.000

The row over British Member of Parliament expenses has reignited after two senior Tories called for MPs to be given massive pay rises. Sir Patrick Cormack, who was a candidate for Commons Speaker, said their salaries should be doubled - from £64,766 to more than £130,000, in return for scrapping their controversial second homes allowances
Thursday, August 20th 2009 - 04:51 UTC
“Deep scars” from recession will an effect for years to come, warns IMF

The world has begun to recover from recession but the process will not be simple, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned. The recession has “left deep scars which will affect both supply and demand for many years to come” according to IMF chief economist, Olivier Blanchard.
Wednesday, August 19th 2009 - 12:44 UTC
Mujica meets President Bachelet and expresses admiration for Chile

Uruguay’s ruling coalition presidential candidate Senator Jose Mujica met on Tuesday with Chilean president Michelle Bachelet as part of a regional campaign to boost the Broad Front ticket. Last week Mujica and his ticket partner economist Danilo Astori met with Brazil’s Lula da Silva.
Wednesday, August 19th 2009 - 12:20 UTC
Honduras breaks diplomatic relations with Argentina

Honduras suspended diplomatic relations with Argentina on Tuesday in retaliation for having its ambassador expelled from Argentina last week. The move stems from tensions between the two countries over the June 28 coup in which Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya was replaced by congressional leader Roberto Micheletti.
Wednesday, August 19th 2009 - 04:57 UTC
Spain/UK to cross swords in Gibraltar waters legal challenge before EC

Spain plans to help the European Commission fend off a legal challenge by Gibraltar over a decision relating to the Rock’s territorial waters, reports the Gibraltar Chronicle. Lawyers representing the Spanish government filed an application to join the controversial case last Friday, a day after the British government confirmed that it would support Gibraltar in court.
Wednesday, August 19th 2009 - 04:54 UTC
US/Colombia free trade treaty “heading for approval”

The free trade treaty between United States and Colombia, pending US congressional approval, is on route to be confirmed said US ambassador in Bogotá William Brownfield.