Stories for May 1st 2013

Wednesday, May 1st 2013 - 06:14 UTC
Argentina openly clashes with UN over the judicial reform; calls Rapporteur ‘ignorant’

Argentina expressed on Tuesday its “discomfort” over the “unheard of” attitude displayed by the UN Special Rapporteur, Gabriela Knaul, who urged the Cristina Fernández administration to reconsider the Council of Magistrates reform and injunction regulation bills.
Wednesday, May 1st 2013 - 06:04 UTC
Major brawl in Venezuelan congress over the disputed presidential election

Political tensions over Venezuela’s disputed presidential election boiled over Tuesday in the National Assembly as government and opposition lawmakers said they physically clashed.
Wednesday, May 1st 2013 - 06:00 UTC
Chilean conservatives will dispute primary and promise compact unity the following day

The Chilean ruling conservative coalition finally patched up differences and decided to hold primaries for the November presidential vote next June 30. UDI, Independent Democratic Union and Chile’s largest party will support former Economy minister Pablo Longueira and RN, National Renovation, former Defence minister Andrés Allamand.
Wednesday, May 1st 2013 - 05:54 UTC
US Congress to discuss devastating report on Cristina Fernandez administration

“Under the corrupt populist government of President Cristina Fernandez Argentina is back on the road to ruin” is the kick off for an extremely critical report to be discussed by the US Congress and which was drafted by Douglas Farah, senior research fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Centre under the heading of “Back to the future”.
Wednesday, May 1st 2013 - 05:48 UTC
In a continent of tweeting chiefs, should presidents message immediate reactions?

When a million angry Argentines flooded the streets earlier this month to protest her government, President Cristina Fernandez decided to post a message on Twitter, but then could not stop and kept twitting.
Wednesday, May 1st 2013 - 02:18 UTC
Unpleasant surprises for the Uruguayan economy predicts a US financial group

A serious deterioration is taking place under the surface of the Uruguayan economy and when the current inflow of foreign capital reverts, the country is going to suffer unpleasant shocks with a strong rise in the price of the US dollar and an increase in inflation, according to a report from the US based BCP Securities.
Wednesday, May 1st 2013 - 02:13 UTC
South American FIFA officials took “bribes”; European Blatter ‘was clumsy’

Joao Havelange has quit as FIFA honorary president while Sepp Blatter has been cleared of misconduct in the ISL bribery case, a report by FIFA ethics committee said. The report described the behaviour of Havelange as “morally and ethically reproachable” in his dealings with ISL, FIFA former marketing partner which went bankrupt in 2001.
Wednesday, May 1st 2013 - 00:59 UTC
Morales can seek second re-election in 2014, says Bolivian constitutional court

Populist Bolivian President Evo Morales will be allowed to seek re-election again next year, according to a Constitutional Court ruling that sparked opposition protests. Morales was elected in late 2005 and re-elected in 2009 after leading a push for a new constitution that allows only one re-election for a sitting president.
Wednesday, May 1st 2013 - 00:33 UTC
Uruguay’s Figueredo replaces Leoz as president of CONMEBOL until 2015

Uruguay’s Eugenio Figueredo was officially appointed president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) in succession to Nicolas Leoz on Tuesday. He is the third Uruguayan to occupy the post.