Stories for May 2014

Monday, May 26th 2014 - 08:24 UTC
Argentine industrial activity drops 4.2% in April; auto industry hit by lower sales

After a decade of growth, the Argentine government faces this year a decline as industrial output falls and a high inflation rates hits consumer spending and new investment. The Argentine economy grew steadily recovering from a 2001-2003 debt crisis and expanded 3% last year but it stumbled in the fourth quarter and could slid into a recession at the start of this year.
Monday, May 26th 2014 - 08:15 UTC
Spanish regional leader says current Spanish policy on Gibraltar “is going nowhere”

Manuel Chaves, the PSOE (Socialist opposition party) MP and former president of the Junta de Andalucia, has said Spain’s policy on Gibraltar “is going nowhere” because Gibraltarians are the ones who will decide their own future.
Monday, May 26th 2014 - 07:50 UTC
Colombia: Zuluaga and Santos, plus allies, will decide on the peace dialogue on 15 June

Right-wing opposition candidate Oscar Ivan Zuluaga won most votes in Colombia's presidential election on Sunday but fell short of a first-round victory and will face President Juan Manuel Santos in a close runoff on 15 June.
Monday, May 26th 2014 - 07:43 UTC
Marie Le Pen European victory rattles France; calls for dissolution of national assembly

France suffered a political earthquake on Sunday as the far-right National Front (FN) topped the polls in European elections with an unprecedented haul of one in every four votes cast, exit polls indicated.
Monday, May 26th 2014 - 07:26 UTC
Farage and the UKIP in course for a 'shockwave' victory in European elections

The UK Independent Party, UKIP, is course for an emphatic victory in the European elections in the UK - with leader Nigel Farage promising to use it as a springboard for next year's general election.
Monday, May 26th 2014 - 07:17 UTC
UN praises Mujica's initiative to provide home for Syrian orphanded children

The United Nations' refugee commission expressed gratitude that Uruguay is preparing to provide a new home for 100 children orphaned by Syria's civil war. Senior regional UNHCR official Michelle Alfaro said there are more than 2 million Syrian refugees in all, and Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan can't handle them all, so the agency hopes to relocate 30,000 this year.
Monday, May 26th 2014 - 06:50 UTC
Argentina: CFK returns to the fold: attends Tedeum and read Francis de Assisi Peace prayer

President Cristina Fernández, CFK, addressed on Sunday the crowd which had gathered in the historic Buenos Aires Plaza de Mayo to mark the anniversary of Argentina's May Revolution, calling on those present to remember all the people who helped create an independent nation.
Monday, May 26th 2014 - 06:33 UTC
Brazil: Furious Dilma fires back at World Cup criticism from soccer star Ronaldo

President Dilma Rousseff hit back over the weekend at criticism voiced by former soccer star Ronaldo over mishandled preparations for the World Cup. In an interview with Reuters Ronaldo lamented that many infrastructure projects promised for the tournament were significantly delayed, scaled-down, or canceled, while some stadiums remain unfinished just over two weeks from kick-off.
Monday, May 26th 2014 - 06:20 UTC
Israel and Palestine presidents accept Francis invitation to pray at the Vatican

Pope Francis inserted himself directly into the collapsed Middle East peace process on Sunday, issuing an invitation to host the Israeli and Palestinian presidents for a prayer summit meeting at his apartment in the Vatican.
Saturday, May 24th 2014 - 10:31 UTC
All is ready for the OAS General Assembly in Paraguay, June 3 to 5

The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved the submission of several draft resolutions to the General Assembly of the institution, which will take place from June 3 to 5 in Asunción, Paraguay.