Economic activity in Brazil fell for a third straight month in August, Central Bank data showed, adding to evidence of a steeper-than-expected recession in the country. The figures were unveiled on the same day the government dismissed rumors over the resignation of Finance Minister Joaquim Levy.
With less than a week to Argentina's presidential election next Sunday, the latest reliable public opinion polls indicate a very close race with the incumbent and leading candidate hovering very close to the magic 40% of ballots needed to win in the first round and thus avoid a runoff a month later.
The loss of the Argentine yacht La Sanmartiniana which was abandoned and left adrift in the South Atlantic, but is currently moored in the Falklands as part of a salvage effort, led to a minor air incident according to Clarin when an RAF Typhoon from MPA warned a private search plane it was approaching Falkland Islands jurisdiction.
Brazil's federal police have opened a preliminary investigation into alleged irregularities in President Dilma Rousseff's re-election campaign last year. According to the media office of the federal police, the probe was opened on 7 October, following a decision by Justice Gilmar Mendes from the Superior Electoral Court to look into allegations of wrongdoing by the Rousseff campaign.
President Dilma Rousseff has broken the law and must step down so that Brazil can recover its legal bearings, the author of a key impeachment petition said. Helio Bicudo, a 93-year-old lawyer who was a high-ranking member of Rousseff's ruling Workers' Party, said in an interview that Brazil must return to “the rule of law.”
Brazilian ex-President Lula da Silva, who allegedly used his influence to aid a leading domestic engineering group after leaving office, voluntarily testified on Thursday before federal prosecutors during an hour and a half, his foundation said.
Finance Minister Joaquim Levy has not resigned and will stay in his post, Brazil's government said on Friday, denying a media report that he planned to step down in a dispute over austerity measures. A finance ministry spokeswoman told reporters that Levy continues to work and is committed to improve the country's future.
Days before an emergency FIFA ExCo meeting, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein has submitted his candidacy for the presidency vowing to restore the governing body’s battered reputation. In compliance with electoral regulations, the Jordanian has the backing of five national associations, although he didn’t name them.
In one round of voting the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday elected Egypt, Japan, Senegal, Ukraine and Uruguay to serve as non-permanent members on the Security Council for two-year terms beginning on 1 January 2016.
Argentina's Supreme Court of Justice issued on Thursday an international arrest warrant against Hussein Mohamad Ibrahim Suleiman, who is being investigated for his involvement in the 1992 attack against the Embassy of Israel in Buenos Aires, which killed 29 people and injured more than 200.