Stories for March 2013

Tuesday, March 12th 2013 - 07:46 UTC
“I’m not Chavez, but I’m his son” Maduro tells his followers

“I’m not (Hugo) Chavez, but I’m his son”, Venezuelan acting president Nicolas Maduro said on Monday on making official his candidacy before the Electoral Tribunal for the April 14 snap election to choose a successor to the deceased charismatic leader.
Tuesday, March 12th 2013 - 07:40 UTC
Cardinals’ conclave to elect new pope begins; a first non-European in the cards

Roman Catholic Church cardinals will file into the 15th-century Sistine Chapel on Tuesday to begin their secret election of a successor to retired Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinals under the voting-age limit of 80, totaling 115 are scheduled to begin their conclave at 4:30 p.m. in Rome after asking for God’s guidance at a mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
Tuesday, March 12th 2013 - 07:29 UTC
Observation mission praises Falklanders on referendum process and their democratic will

The International Observation Mission (RIOM) congratulated the Falklands for the ‘free and fair referendum process’ reflecting the democratic will of the Falkland Islanders voters, and for its execution in accordance with international standards and local laws.
Tuesday, March 12th 2013 - 01:52 UTC
Overwhelming turnout and YES vote in the Falklands referendum

As was anticipated 99.8% of Falkland Islanders voted to maintain the current political status of the Islands as a British Overseas Territory, it was announced late Monday evening by the local electoral authorities.
Tuesday, March 12th 2013 - 01:10 UTC
Uruguayan political system coincide in their disappointment with Mercosur ‘in a state of lethargy’

Uruguayan Vice president Danilo Astori and members of the opposition ratified the country’s increasing concern about Mercosur which is “full of obstacles and problems” and is described as “sleepy and in state of lethargy”.
Tuesday, March 12th 2013 - 00:12 UTC
”Absolute confidence” of the Cuban regime in Nicolas Maduro

President Raul Castro expressed “absolute confidence” in Hugo Chavez's successors, after returning from the populist leader's funeral in Caracas, the Cuban press reported Sunday.
Tuesday, March 12th 2013 - 00:04 UTC
Chavez, the best friend of the Cuban people in their history, says Fidel Castro

Cuba's Fidel Castro praised the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as a champion of the poor and said Cubans had lost their best friend ever, in his first comments on the death last week of his socialist ally. Castro said the news, although not unexpected, had been a hard blow.
Monday, March 11th 2013 - 22:59 UTC
“Chavism” (like Argentina’s Peronism) for a long time to come, forecasts Mujica

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica compared the future of Chavism in Venezuela with that of the Argentine Justicialista Party, which had in Juan Domingo Peron and his wife Evita Peron their maximum leaders (and caudillos), and even today in the almost hegemonic political movement in Argentina.
Monday, March 11th 2013 - 22:54 UTC
Argentine macroeconomic context forces huge 6bn potash project suspension

Brazilian mining giant Vale announced on Monday it has suspended the 6 billion dollars Río Colorado potash project in Mendoza province. The mining, main producer of iron had halted the work on the project back in December, awaiting tax breaks for the project to help to compensate for soaring costs related to inflation and exchange rates.
Monday, March 11th 2013 - 21:26 UTC
Praise for Falklands’ population tolerance and criticism for Argentina’s approach

”I came to meet a peaceful population of sheep farmers and fishing people and they were not waiting for me to support them” but they have very strong and historic links with Uruguay, said lawmaker Jose Cardoso, who is currently in the Falklands to observe the referendum on the Islanders political status and future.