Stories for 2013

Monday, March 4th 2013 - 05:55 UTC
Brazilian special forces take control of Rio ‘favelas’ close to the airport and seaport

Brazilian security forces seized control of two crime-ridden ‘favelas’ slums near Rio do Janeiro’s international airport and seaport Sunday in a new bid to drive out drug traffickers ahead of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 summer Olympics.
Monday, March 4th 2013 - 05:43 UTC
Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands: Another Falklands?

By Gwynne Dyer - Chinese survey vessels go into the waters around the disputed islands and Japanese patrol ships tail them much too closely. Twice last month Chinese maritime surveillance aircraft flew into the airspace around the Japanese-controlled islands and Tokyo scrambled F-15 fighters to meet them. On the second occasion, China then sent fighters too. Can these people be serious?
Monday, March 4th 2013 - 05:34 UTC
C24 president insists Falklands dispute is over sovereignty, not self determination

The UN Decolonisation Committee has not received any further requests on the Falklands/Malvinas issue, and “there is no such procedure as self-determination regarding the Islands dispute”, according to the C24 president Diego Morejón Pazmiño, standing Ecuadorean ambassador before the UN.
Monday, March 4th 2013 - 05:20 UTC
OAS mission praises Paraguay’s Electoral Court organizing 21 April elections

Oscar Airas, chief of the OAS Electoral Observation and Political Accompaniment Mission in Paraguay completed his second visit to Asunción collecting information from different sources ahead of the coming general elections scheduled for April 21.
Monday, March 4th 2013 - 05:12 UTC
Argentina has 1.8 million foreign immigrants: mostly from neighbouring countries

Immigrants in Argentine represent 4.5% of the population and 85% of them come from neighbouring South American countries according to the latest report from the International Migration Organization. The figure is an estimated 1.8 million foreigners of which 550.713 are from Paraguay; 345.272 from Bolivia; 191.147 from Chile and 157.514 from Peru.
Monday, March 4th 2013 - 05:06 UTC
The “entente fugale” and the French point of view on defence of the Falklands

Dubbed the “entente frugale” and criticised by some as a dangerous dilution of military sovereignty, Franco-British defence cooperation is nonetheless growing stronger. Shrinking budgets, a less indulgent United States and Europe’s diminishing military clout in the world have bolstered the two countries’ determination to work together.
Saturday, March 2nd 2013 - 08:36 UTC
Mujica says Mercosur is a stalled pachyderm and needs trade accords with third parties

Mercosur more than a common market is a “poor customs union” said Uruguayan president Jose Mujica adding that new discussions on the future of the group’s future should be considered but which imply the possibility of establishing new free trade agreements with third parties.
Saturday, March 2nd 2013 - 08:27 UTC
On Monday congregation of cardinals begins process to vote for a new Pope

On the first day that the Church is without a Pope, Cardinal Angelo Sodano announced that the first general congregation of cardinals will take place next Monday morning. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, made the date public in an official letter sent to the world’s cardinal on Friday March first.
Saturday, March 2nd 2013 - 08:18 UTC
Opposition accuses Venezuelan government of lying about President Chavez condition

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles accused Venezuela’s government on Friday of repeatedly lying about President Hugo Chavez’s condition, and said the truth will be known within days.
Saturday, March 2nd 2013 - 08:12 UTC
Brazilian economy worst performance in three years; in 2012 growth was 0.9%

The Brazilian economy grew a mere 0.9% in 2012 despite government stimulus measures, its worst performance in three years, official statistics showed Friday. But prospects for the coming years are considered encouraging given the international events to be hosted by Brazil and the electoral calendar.