Southern Cone

Argentina: judge orders arrest of former president

An Argentine judge ordered the arrest of current senator and former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner for her alleged involvement in a cover-up of Iran’s participation in a 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish center that left 85 people dead. Kirchner is alleged to have signed a deal with the Iranian government that would allow for Argentine magistrates to interview the officials suspected of ordering the attack in Tehran rather than in Buenos Aires in an attempt to impede the investigation.

The Andes

Venezuela drops petro-dollar: how meaningful?

Venezuela, under growing pressure from US sanctions, has told oil traders that it is dropping petro-dollars for petro-euros and petro-yuans. Despite the instinct to cheer the decline of US world domination, will this make any real difference—either to Venezuela, still dependent on oil exports in a world of depressed prices, or to Planet Earth, facing biosphere collapse as a result of burning hydrocarbons?

North America

Trump: drug war general to Homeland Security

Gen. John Kelly, Trump's choice for Homeland Security secretary, is ex-chief of the Pentagon's Southern Command who clashed with Obama over his hardline views.

Southern Cone

Argentine judge demands Iraq arrest Iran diplomat

An Argentine federal judge called upon authorities in Iraq to arrest Iranian diplomat Ali Akbar Velayati, accused intellectual author of the 1994 bombing of Buenos Aires' Jewish center.

Southern Cone

Argentina: golpe or auto-golpe?

As charges were dropped against President Cristina Fernández, the intelligence service dissolved and cabinet purged, opposition lawmakers said a "self-coup" is in the works.

Southern Cone

Argentina and Iran in oil-for-terror deal?

Did Argentina's President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner strike a secret deal with Tehran to cover up Iran's role in a terror attack in exchange for guarantees of oil imports?

Southern Cone

Argentina: many are suspected in AMIA cover-up

It's not clear that anyone in Argentina's political class really wants the AMIA case solved. Israel and the US don't look much better. And suspect suicides are nothing new in Argentina.

Southern Cone

Argentina: deal to probe AMIA blast struck down

An appeals court in Argentina ruled that a controversial agreement with Iran to investigate the 1994 bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish community center was unconstitutional.