Stories for November 2012

Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 06:35 UTC
Obama re-elected but Congress remains deeply divided

President Barack Obama has been re-elected to a second term, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney. With results in from most states, the US first African American president has secured the 270 votes in the Electoral College needed to win the race.
Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 04:47 UTC
Opposition lawmakers pledge to block any re-election bid by Cristina Fernandez

As happened in the Argentine Senate a couple of weeks ago, 107 members (out of 257) from the Lower House, and from all opposition parties, subscribed on Tuesday a manifest pledging non support for any initiative to amend the Constitution with the purpose of opening the way for a second re-election.
Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 04:39 UTC
Opening the Falklands to Latin America; the testimony of a Guatemala journalist

Luis Alberto Velasquez is a journalist with the Guatemalan newspaper La Prensa Libre and recently visited the Falkland Islands with a group of journalists from Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In the guest post below Luis Alberto shares some thoughts about his recent trip.
Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 04:34 UTC
Ex Mexican finance minister named IMF Western Hemisphere director

Mexican economist Alejandro Werner was named on Tuesday to the position of IMF Director, Western Hemisphere Department. His appointment will become effective early in January 2013. Mr. Werner succeeds Mr. Nicolas Eyzáguirre, who resigned effective July 26, 2012.
Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 04:27 UTC
Soy crop prospects fin South America down: Argentina excessive water, in Brazil lack of rain

South America’s crop prospects deteriorated because of excessive rainfall in Argentina and dry conditions in central Brazil, according to Oil World. Argentina’s estimated 55/56 million tons soybean crop could drop anywhere from 3 6o 6 million tons because of delays in sowing caused by torrential rains and flooding.
Tuesday, November 6th 2012 - 22:38 UTC
Sao Paulo with federal support promises to crack organized crime and drug lords

Brazil announced on Tuesday it will create a new police agency, boost surveillance operations and mull transferring inmates to more secure prisons as it battles killings of police in surging violence blamed on a jail-based drug gang.
Tuesday, November 6th 2012 - 21:39 UTC
BG Group/Argentina appeal case reaches US Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court on Monday asked for the US government's views on a British Gas Group PLC appeal that seeks to restore a 185 million dollars arbitration award the company won against Argentina in 2007.
Tuesday, November 6th 2012 - 21:28 UTC
International tourist arrivals up 4% this year; Americas among the most dynamic

International tourist arrivals grew by 4% between January and August 2012 compared to the same period of 2011 according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. The resilience of international tourism in a continuing uncertain economy is further confirmed by the positive data on tourism earnings and expenditure.
Tuesday, November 6th 2012 - 20:56 UTC
NZ scientists in world first discovery of the elusive spade-toothed beaked whale

New Zealand scientists have made a world first discovery when they identified two skeletons belonging to the spade-toothed beaked whale, which is so rare that nobody has seen one alive. A 17-foot whale mother and her calf beached themselves in New Zealand in 2010 and were buried misidentified for a much more common type of whale that occasionally strands on NZ beaches.
Tuesday, November 6th 2012 - 20:41 UTC
Real estate activity drops dramatically in Argentina because of ‘dollar-clamp’

Argentina’s real estate sector is already feeling the negative consequences of the ‘dollar-clamp’ implemented by the government of President Cristina Fernandez a year ago, and in 2013 the effect could have an even greater impact for the construction industry.