South America

RIO DE JANEIRO, January 4. /TASS/. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro did not rule out that he may discuss with Washington the establishment of a US military base on Brazilian territory, he said in an interview with the TV channel SBT on Thursday.

BRASILIA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Army captain-turned-politician Jair Bolsonaro was sworn in as Brazil's president on Tuesday amid heightened security.

Bolsonaro, 63, took the oath of office at 3:10 p.m. local time at a ceremony held at the National Congress building in the capital Brasilia.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's President-elect Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday said he will issue a decree to loosen gun laws to enable Brazilians to protect themselves from violence.

Making it easier for Brazilians to arm themselves against crime was one of his main campaign promises.

"By decree, we aim to guarantee the possession of firearms for citizens without criminal record," Bolsonaro, who takes office on Jan.1, tweeted on Saturday.

13 Dec 2018; DW: A reporter known for his bylines in right-wing newspapers has been charged with spying and rebellion. Press freedom groups have called for his release, saying he has a right to report "regardless of his personal views."

The German Foreign Ministry on Wednesday confirmed to DW that German journalist Billy Six has been arrested in Venezuela.

The ministry said it has extended consular services to the journalist, who is known for his bylines in the Berlin-based right-wing Junge Freiheit newspaper.

5 Dec 2018; AFP: The government of Panama awarded Tuesday a Chinese consortium a $1.4 billion contract to build a bridge over the Panama Canal, a day after a visit by President Xi Jinping.

That tour was part of China's efforts to extend its political and economic influence in Latin America.

"Panama is moving ahead in its relations with China and without a doubt this project that begins its construction today is part of that message and trust between the two countries," Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela said.

Buenos Aires, Dec 2 (PTI) For the first time, India will host the annual G-20 summit in 2022, coinciding with the country's 75th anniversary of Independence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the announcement at the closing ceremony of the 13th G-20 summit here in the Argentinian capital on Saturday.

He thanked Italy for allowing India to play the host. Italy was to host the international forum of the world's top 20 economies in 2022. The 14th edition will be held in Japan while Saudi Arabia will host the 15th.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The United States and China reached a 90-day cease-fire in a trade dispute that has rattled financial markets and threatened world economic growth. The breakthrough came after a dinner meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Leaders of the Group of 20 have agreed to fix the world trading system — but only 19 of them agreed to support the Paris accord on fighting climate change.

Applause rose up in the hall Saturday as the leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, signed off on a final statement at the end of a two-day summit.

The statement acknowledges flaws in the world trading system and calls for reforming the World Trade Organization. It doesn’t mention protectionism however, because negotiators said the U.S. had resisted that.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — All-night talks at the Group of 20 summit have resulted in a possible “breakthrough” on fixing the global trading system, European diplomats said Saturday as the gathering entered its crucial second and final day in the Argentine capital.

Despite deep divisions going into the summit and resistance from the United States, European Union officials said countries also are making progress on a final statement that will acknowledge problems with the World Trade Organization but commit to reforming it.

30 Nov 2018; AFP: Latin America and the Caribbean is the most violent region on the planet, accounting for 39 percent of the world's murders, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) said in a study published on Thursday.

That amounts to more than 2.5 million murders in less than two decades, 75 percent of which were committed using firearms.

Robbery is also three times higher than the world average (321.7 against 108 per 100,000 inhabitants) and 41 of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world are found in the region.