Stories for May 2014

Thursday, May 29th 2014 - 06:35 UTC
Argentina and Russia ratify close links; Moscow reaffirms Malvinas claim support

Argentina was formally invited to take part in a BRICS summit to be held in Brazil next month. The Kremlin also ratified support to Buenos Aires in its long-standing dispute with the UK over the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands.
Thursday, May 29th 2014 - 06:26 UTC
Argentina is the most protectionist country of the region” claims Astori

Uruguay's vice-president Danilo Astori said that Argentina is “the most protectionist country in the region” and again questioned the effectiveness of Mercosur arguing that Uruguay can't forget the region but can't be expected to remain idle.
Thursday, May 29th 2014 - 06:07 UTC
Buenos Aires City households need 1.300 dollars per month; 25% don't make that sum

A family living in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires needs 10.454 Pesos to make it to the end of the month, according to the city's stats and census office. The average household refers to a couple with two children, that pays rent and does not include transport, private education or health care.
Thursday, May 29th 2014 - 06:00 UTC
US Lower House approves legislation to impose sanctions on Venezuela

The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Wednesday, to impose sanctions on Venezuelans responsible for human rights abuses during anti-government protests, despite Obama administration worries that they could threaten talks seeking to ease the unrest.
Thursday, May 29th 2014 - 05:51 UTC
Brazil's central bank opted to leave rate unchanged at 11%, “at this moment”

Brazil left its benchmark interest rate unchanged on Wednesday. In a unanimous decision, the central bank's monetary policy committee, Copom, kept the Selic rate at 11%, breaking a streak of nine consecutive hikes as expected by a majority of analysts and market traders.
Thursday, May 29th 2014 - 05:37 UTC
Argentina announces an understanding with the Paris Club on defaulted debt

Following twelve hours of discussions the Argentine delegation headed by Economy Minister Axel Kicillof managed on Wednesday to agree the main points for Argentina to overcome the approximately 9.5bn dollars default with countries that make up the Paris Club, according to late reports from the French capital.
Thursday, May 29th 2014 - 02:45 UTC
WHO calls on countries to raise taxes on tobacco to prevent addiction

On World No Tobacco Day (31 May), WHO calls on countries to raise taxes on tobacco to encourage users to stop and prevent other people from becoming addicted to tobacco. Based on 2012 data, WHO estimates that increasing tobacco taxes by 50%, all countries would reduce the number of smokers by 49 million within the next three years and ultimately save 11 million lives.
Thursday, May 29th 2014 - 00:54 UTC
Uruguayan court declines competence to rule on Chinese fishing vessel 'slavery' claims

A Uruguayan criminal court found no merit to continue investigating into incidents allegedly occurred in a Chinese flagged fishing vessel following on claims of 'slavery', ill treatment and beatings, presented by 28 African crewmembers.
Thursday, May 29th 2014 - 00:35 UTC
Three Latam presidents among Forbes list of 25 most powerful women

Brazil, Argentina and Chile presidents figure among the list of the 25 most powerful women in the world according to the latest release from Forbes. Dilma Rousseff ranks in fourth place, Cristina Fernandez 19 and Michele Bachelet, 25. Only nine heads of state figure in the 100 names list.
Wednesday, May 28th 2014 - 22:12 UTC
Seven years and 650 million dollars later, Argentine icebreaker Irizar still under repairs

The Argentine government is putting pressure on contractors so that the Navy's flagship icebreaker Almirante Irizar, partially destroyed by fire in 2007, can begin sea trials later this year. However over-costs and mismanagement of the funds invested, estimated at over 650 million dollars, could have purchased a new vessel of three second hand according to critics in Congress.