Politics

• Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 07:43 UTC

  OAS electoral observers arrive in Panama ahead of Sunday's ballot

  

  The OAS Electoral Observation Mission has arrived in Panama, led by former Peruvian Congresswoman and presidential candidate Lourdes Flores Nano, for the final deployment of the 56 international experts and observers ahead of Sunday's general elections.

• Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 07:22 UTC

  Brazil: Protestors demanding housing block main access routes and camp outside City Council

  

  A demonstration supporting access to low-cost housing on Wednesday blocked several stretches of the Marginal Tiete, one of the main access routes to Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city and financial capital.

• Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 07:08 UTC

  Rousseff bids for re-election and announces benefits for her electoral base

  

  President Dilma Rousseff said on Wednesday she will seek re-election in October, even though some are calling for the return of her popular predecessor president Lula da Silva. Rousseff, who belongs to Lula's Workers Party and was his protegée, said she hoped to have the support of all the parties allied with her government.

• Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 06:58 UTC

  Fed optimistic about US economy; pares securities purchases by another 10bn dollars

  

  The Federal Reserve looked past a dismal reading on first quarter US growth and gave a mostly upbeat assessment of the economy's prospects as it announced another cut in its massive bond-buying stimulus. Latest information indicates that economic activity has picked up after having slowed sharply during the winter in part because of adverse weather conditions, the central bank said on Wednesday.

• Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 06:45 UTC

  Malvinas issue should be addressed at UN General Assembly suggest Argentine lawmakers

  

  Members from the opposition addressed a letter to President Cristina Fernandez recommending that in the coming UN General Assembly Argentina presents a resolution-draft calling for the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty claim to be discussed in the assembly and not at the Decolonization Committee or C24.

• Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 05:43 UTC

  Falklands' new governor mystified by Argentine logic and 'welcomes illumination'

  

  Asked at a press conference on Wednesday why the Argentine Government had appeared to be against his appointment to the Falkland Islands, while also attempting to vilify him as someone who had previously opposed the right to self-determination of the inhabitants of another small island community, the newly-arrived governor, Mr Colin Roberts CVO, said that he was mystified by the logic and “would welcome illumination”.

• Wednesday, April 30th 2014 - 09:27 UTC

  Rio's Olympics preparations “plagued with delays”; city full of “social issues”

  

  International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president John Coates has called Brazil's preparations for the 2016 Rio Games “the worst” in his experience and critically behind schedule, but warned there was no “plan B” to find another host.

• Wednesday, April 30th 2014 - 09:22 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil agree to further integrate and prop their auto industries

  

  Argentina and Brazilian officials agreed to continue meeting regularly to solve as soon as possible bilateral trade problems mainly those referred to the auto industry. On Tuesday Argentine Finance minister Axel Kicillof and Industry minister Deborah Giorgi met their Brazilian counterparts, Guido Mantega and Mauro Borges in Brasilia.

• Wednesday, April 30th 2014 - 09:03 UTC

  Malvinas next of kin ceremony to remember the sinking of 'General Belgrano'

  

  The Malvinas and South Atlantic Islands next of kin commission and the Cruiser “General Belgrano-last crew” association will be honoring next Friday 2 May the 323 crew members of the Argentine man-of-war sunk during the Falklands/Malvinas conflict in 1982.

• Wednesday, April 30th 2014 - 08:57 UTC

  Poverty in Argentina stands at 27.5% of population, says Catholic University

  

  Poverty and indigence in Argentina in the last quarter of 2013 again increased and reached 27,5% of the population and 17.8% of households, according to the latest report from the Catholic University Social Debt Observatory, UCA.