Stories for July 2013

Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:46 UTC
Money exchange controls limit Argentines from travelling to Brazil to greet Pope Francis

Despite the pope is Argentine and on Monday he will be making his first pastoral trip overseas to Brazil, Argentine government strict currency controls are making it difficult for prospective pilgrims to travel. An estimated 60.000 Argentines are expected to travel to Rio do Janeiro for the grand event.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:42 UTC
Operation clean up to reform scandal–plagued Vatican administration

Pope Francis, moving to overcome major crises in the Holy See, set up a special commission to reform its economic and administrative departments, the Vatican said on Friday.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:35 UTC
Fitch maintains Brazil’s debt outlook ‘stable’ and minister says the report was ‘fair’

Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said that Fitch's decision to maintain the country’s debt outlook at stable was “fair” given Brazil robust finances and lesser debt burden.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:31 UTC
Brazil Catholic church losing ground to Protestants and Pentecostals

Brazil's Catholic population has declined since 2000 while its Protestant population has grown during the past two decades, a Pew survey fund.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:27 UTC
Bolivia’s Morales apologizes to for 2011 incident when a Brazilian Defence ministry aircraft was searched

Bolivia's President Evo Morales apologized to Brazil Friday for a 2011 incident in which authorities searched a Brazilian military aircraft for drugs. Brazil lodged an official complaint several days ago as Morales was demanding apologies from European countries for blocking his flight home from Moscow earlier this month.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:22 UTC
All four EU countries involved in the Morales plane incident have officially apologized

Italy and Portugal have officially apologized for involvement in illegally re-routing the plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales earlier this month during a flight home from Moscow. On 3 July a number Western European countries closed their airspace to the presidential aircraft on a false suspicion that leaker of US electronic spying Edward Snowden was onboard, forcing the plane to land in Vienna.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:07 UTC
Lessons from India Jindal’s Bolivian investment failure

Jindal’s integrated mining and steel project in Bolivia was the largest contract secured by an Indian company in Latin America. The project, which ultimately became a victim of the country's domestic politics, has lessons for Indian companies venturing into Latin America.
Friday, July 19th 2013 - 06:34 UTC
Kirchnerite candidates in four main districts ahead of mid term election trail behind

The latest round of public opinion polls for the coming mid term elections next October in Argentina don’t fare well for President Cristina Fernandez particularly in the country’s four main electoral circumscriptions, Buenos Aires province, Buenos Aires City, Santa Fe and Cordoba.
Friday, July 19th 2013 - 06:29 UTC
Pope Francis wants direct contact with the crowds when he visits Brazil next week

Pope Francis will not use bullet-proof ‘Pope-mobiles’ on his visit to Brazil next week to allow him more direct contact with crowds despite the security risks, according to a Vatican release.
Friday, July 19th 2013 - 06:26 UTC
Piñera wants a ‘ladies fight’ for the coming November presidential election

Chilean president Sebastián Piñera defended the need for an only candidate in the ruling coalition for the coming presidential election of November and considered it should be a woman, suggesting the name of Labour minister Evelyn Matthei.