Latin America

Wednesday, October 22nd 2014 - 10:02 UTC
Uruguay faces the most competitive election since the return of democracy

Uruguay is less than four days away from Sunday 26 October general election with opinion polls unable to forecast a clear winner, and a strong possibility that the left wing coalition could lose its legislative majority enjoyed in the last ten years and even the Executive.
Tuesday, October 21st 2014 - 07:07 UTC
Former Peruvian prosecutor named head of Transparency International

Global anti-corruption campaigners at Transparency International elected Peruvian lawyer Jose Ugaz as it’s new head on Sunday marking a shift from quiet diplomacy in combating fraud and bribery toward more grassroots activism.
Monday, October 20th 2014 - 08:46 UTC
Morales 'king' of Bolivia; his two thirds majority in congress open the way to reform the constitution

President Evo Morales swept to a third term with 61% of the vote, electoral officials said in confirming the result. The October 12 balloting was a massive vote of support and a strong mandate to expand his reforms which will have a swift legislative discussion since Morales party obtained two thirds of the Legislative Assembly benches.
Monday, October 20th 2014 - 08:31 UTC
First time voters in Uruguay more attracted to opposition candidate Lacalle Pou

Uruguay's general elections next Sunday are not only a neck-to-neck dispute between the two main presidential candidates, (unpredictable only six months ago), but are also revealing that the ruling coalition has lost its dominant allure over new voters, according to pollsters.
Saturday, October 18th 2014 - 08:39 UTC
The Caribbean and Colombia ban entry of travelers from Ebola stricken countries

A group of Caribbean countries have announced bans on entry to foreigners who have travelled through the three West African countries most affected by Ebola. Jamaica said it would not accept travelers from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone for the time being.
Saturday, October 18th 2014 - 08:22 UTC
Fallon visits Gibraltar and reaffirms UK support to deal with unlawful Spanish incursions

A package of new measures announced by the Defense Secretary has reaffirmed the UK’s support to Gibraltar. On his first visit since becoming Secretary of State, Michael Fallon paid tribute to those working to support defense activities in Gibraltar and emphasized the strategic importance of the permanent joint operating base there.
Saturday, October 18th 2014 - 08:13 UTC
Ebola scare reaches cruise industry: Carnival vessel barred from Mexico and Belize

A laboratory technician from the Dallas hospital where a Liberian died of the Ebola virus, and who handled some of his fluid samples for analysis, has been placed in quarantine aboard a cruise ship, the State Department said on Friday.
Saturday, October 18th 2014 - 07:39 UTC
Uruguay's presidential election too close and 'unpredictable', argue pollsters

The strong economy and the good image of the incumbent presidential candidate Tabare Vazquez are not sufficient for Uruguay's ruling coalition Broad Front to ensure a third consecutive mandate next Sunday 26 October, according to the country's main pollsters, who underlined that the election result at this stage is too close and 'unpredictable'.
Thursday, October 16th 2014 - 07:45 UTC
Brazilian presidential runoff in a neck to neck technical tie

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff and her challenger Senator Aecio Neves for the 26 October runoff, are technically tied according to the latest public opinion poll released by Datafolha, which so far has shown to be one of the most reliable pollsters.
Thursday, October 16th 2014 - 07:30 UTC
Venezuela 'ripe' for default on foreign debt forecast Reinhart and Rogoff

Venezuela will almost certainly default on its foreign debt, according to Harvard economists Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff. They add that the beleaguered Latin American economy has already defaulted on “every conceivable kind of domestic debt”.