Stories for May 2014

Wednesday, May 14th 2014 - 02:54 UTC
Prison inmate taps into the cellular phone of US ambassador in Uruguay

A prisoner in Uruguay tapped into the U.S. ambassador's cell-phone and sent messages to some of her contacts in an attempt to commit a still undisclosed fraud, authorities said Tuesday, although the news was on the media a day before.
Wednesday, May 14th 2014 - 00:24 UTC
Cristina Fernandez ally union admits 18.8% (7 million) of Argentines are under the poverty line

At least 7 million Argentines, or 18.8% of the population, currently find themselves under the poverty line, with 1.7 million (4.2%) classed as in extreme poverty or indigence, according to a new report from the Argentine Workers' Central (CTA) union headed by the Cristina Fernandez government ally Hugo Yasky.
Wednesday, May 14th 2014 - 00:15 UTC
West Antarctica glaciers' melting 'have passed the point of no return', says NASA study

A new study by researchers at NASA and the University of California, Irvine, finds a rapidly melting section of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet appears to be in an irreversible state of decline, with nothing to stop the glaciers in this area from melting into the sea.
Wednesday, May 14th 2014 - 00:09 UTC
Rio bus drivers on a 48-hour strike leave tens of thousands stranded

Rio de Janeiro bus drivers on Tuesday began a 48-hour strike that left tens of thousands of people without transportation and caused huge problems in Brazil's second-largest city. Participation in the strike was greater than in the 24-hour effort staged last Thursday when on the streets of Rio scarcely a single bus was to be seen.
Tuesday, May 13th 2014 - 19:11 UTC
Argentina and Chile presidents pledge to increase border crossings

President Cristina Fernández received on Monday her Chilean counterpart Michelle Bachelet and discussed the re-launching of the Maipú Agreement -signed in 2009- to increase the links between the two countries and boost regional commerce with Asia.
Tuesday, May 13th 2014 - 18:59 UTC
Several world leaders expected for the coming World Cup in Brazil

The Brazilian government is counting on a strong presence from world leaders during the football World Cup, which kicks off on June 12. Cristina Fernández, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US vice-president Joe Biden are among the dignitaries expected to attend.
Tuesday, May 13th 2014 - 18:53 UTC
Scottish church fears strong divisions following the independence referendum

Political leaders locked in a bitter fight over Scottish independence have urged all Scots to reunite whatever the outcome of a referendum in September as the national church voiced concerns over rifts in society.
Tuesday, May 13th 2014 - 18:51 UTC
IMF warns Latin America about changing times and calls for fiscal prudence

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has suggested that Argentina could benefit from cutting public spending destined for subsidies on energy costs, stating that such policies are “very costly and distort economic activity.”
Tuesday, May 13th 2014 - 08:29 UTC
Argentina satisfied “with Chile's renewed support for the Malvinas cause”

Argentina's president of the Lower House, Julián Domínguez underlined the “renewed Chilean support for the Malvinas Islands cause” during an event on Monday at the Legislative Assembly which received Chilean president Michelle Bachelet in Congress.
Tuesday, May 13th 2014 - 08:14 UTC
Brazil seals land borders with 30.000 troops ahead of the World Cup

Brazil began deploying over the weekend some 30,000 troops to secure its borders as it prepares to host the World Cup that kicks off next month. The operation involving the army, navy and air force will extend over the 16,900-kilometer frontier separating the South American giant from its 10 neighbors.