Stories for April 2014

Monday, April 7th 2014 - 05:58 UTC
Scottish oil worker killed during a carjacking incident in Rio do Janeiro

The feeling of insecurity in Brazil's main cities peaked again last week when it was reported that a British oil worker had been shot dead by two men in Rio de Janeiro, a Scottish newspaper reported Saturday.
Monday, April 7th 2014 - 05:50 UTC
State of emergency in Buenos Aires province overwhelmed by crime and an outbreak of lynching

The governor of Argentina's largest, richest and most populated province declared a 12-month state of emergency following an outbreak of lynching by furious citizens who feel defenceless and 'overwhelmed' by crime. The situation has become a major political issue with magistrates and the Church calling for restrain.
Monday, April 7th 2014 - 05:43 UTC
Argentine church baptizes lesbian couple child; now they will fight for a catholic marriage

A daughter of a lesbian couple was baptized by the Catholic Church in Argentina on Saturday, April 5 with President Cristina Fernandez acting as the godmother. It was the first case in the country, a gesture of opening from the institution headed by Argentine Pope Francis.
Monday, April 7th 2014 - 05:34 UTC
China's COFCO joins world's top grain-traders select club

COFCO Corp has agreed to pay 1.5 billion dollars for a majority stake in Noble Group Ltd's agribusiness, its second acquisition in less than two months, as China's largest grain trader seeks to strengthen its market position worldwide.
Monday, April 7th 2014 - 05:18 UTC
Costa Rica faces serious challenge: new president with scant support in congress

A center-left academic who has never held elected office easily won Costa Rica's presidential election on Sunday, ousting the graft-stained ruling party from power after its candidate quit campaigning a month ago. However he will have quite a job ensuring support in Congress.
Saturday, April 5th 2014 - 05:48 UTC
The poll was completely wrong: Brazilians love their scantily dressed women

Friday came with a relief for Brazil when a leading economic pollster admitted to having committed a serious error in interpreting results released earlier saying that a majority of Brazilians supported the idea that women in revealing clothes “deserve to be attacked”.
Saturday, April 5th 2014 - 05:40 UTC
Twitter uproar: Cristina Fernandez account blocked to Falkland Islanders

Argentine president Cristina Fernandez caused an uproar on Friday in the Twitter social network when she blocked access to the Falkland Islanders who mocked her statements about the presence of nuclear weapons at NATO' largest base in the South Atlantic, precisely in the Falkland Islands.
Saturday, April 5th 2014 - 04:18 UTC
Antipersonnel mines day: Central America cleared; in Colombia rebels continue planting them

OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza participated on Friday in Colombia in a ceremony commemorating the International Day against Antipersonnel Mines, where he described the effort and commitment of OAS to eradicate the scourge and bring rehabilitation to survivors as a “high priority.”
Saturday, April 5th 2014 - 04:07 UTC
Brazilian officials claim Italian cruise vessel had crew members in 'slave-like conditions'

Brazilian police say they have rescued 11 crew members working in “slave-like conditions” on an Italian cruise ship. The operation was carried out the north-eastern city of Salvador, where the MSC Magnifica had docked for the day with more than 3,000 passengers.
Saturday, April 5th 2014 - 03:34 UTC
US economy adds 192.000 new jobs in March; unemployment steady at 6.7%

The US added 192,000 new jobs in March, in line with expectations, as the unemployment rate held steady at 6.7%. Severe weather over the winter did not prevent the monthly average for new jobs from continuing a climb towards pre-economic crisis levels.