Latin America

• Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 07:43 UTC

  OAS electoral observers arrive in Panama ahead of Sunday's ballot

  

  The OAS Electoral Observation Mission has arrived in Panama, led by former Peruvian Congresswoman and presidential candidate Lourdes Flores Nano, for the final deployment of the 56 international experts and observers ahead of Sunday's general elections.

• Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 07:08 UTC

  Rousseff bids for re-election and announces benefits for her electoral base

  

  President Dilma Rousseff said on Wednesday she will seek re-election in October, even though some are calling for the return of her popular predecessor president Lula da Silva. Rousseff, who belongs to Lula's Workers Party and was his protegée, said she hoped to have the support of all the parties allied with her government.

• Thursday, May 1st 2014 - 05:43 UTC

  Falklands' new governor mystified by Argentine logic and 'welcomes illumination'

  

  Asked at a press conference on Wednesday why the Argentine Government had appeared to be against his appointment to the Falkland Islands, while also attempting to vilify him as someone who had previously opposed the right to self-determination of the inhabitants of another small island community, the newly-arrived governor, Mr Colin Roberts CVO, said that he was mystified by the logic and “would welcome illumination”.

• Wednesday, April 30th 2014 - 09:22 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil agree to further integrate and prop their auto industries

  

  Argentina and Brazilian officials agreed to continue meeting regularly to solve as soon as possible bilateral trade problems mainly those referred to the auto industry. On Tuesday Argentine Finance minister Axel Kicillof and Industry minister Deborah Giorgi met their Brazilian counterparts, Guido Mantega and Mauro Borges in Brasilia.

• Wednesday, April 30th 2014 - 09:14 UTC

  Latam and Caribbean forecasted to expand 2.7% on average this year

  

  Latin American and Caribbean countries are estimated to grow an average 2.7% in 2014 as the region's main economies have limited dynamism according to ECLAC's Updated Economic Review of Latam and the Caribbean 2013, released on Tuesday.

• Wednesday, April 30th 2014 - 08:57 UTC

  Poverty in Argentina stands at 27.5% of population, says Catholic University

  

  Poverty and indigence in Argentina in the last quarter of 2013 again increased and reached 27,5% of the population and 17.8% of households, according to the latest report from the Catholic University Social Debt Observatory, UCA.

• Tuesday, April 29th 2014 - 06:37 UTC

  Brazilian coalition members want 'Lula back' for October's election

  

  At least twenty members of Brazil's Lower House belonging to the ruling coalition have formally asked for the return of former president Lula da Silva as candidate for next October's election given 'the current economic situation of the country', which in practical terms means dumping Dilma Rousseff's re-election pretensions.

• Tuesday, April 29th 2014 - 06:31 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil plan to prop economies by stimulating the auto industry

  

  Argentine Economy Minister Axel Kicillof and Industry Minister Débora Giorgi fly to Brasilia on Tuesday in a bid to swing the automobile trade balance in Argentina’s favor, with the sector accounting for the majority of a total 3.15 billion dollars trade deficit. From Brazil Finance minister Guido Mantega confirmed bilateral discussions on the auto industry and exports.

• Monday, April 28th 2014 - 23:40 UTC

  FIFA's Valcke downplays 'favelas' violence: “finally we will be talking about football”

  

  FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke downplayed recent violence in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro as a threat to the upcoming World Cup. The city was the scene of violent outbursts last week when a dancer was found dead with his friends and family blaming the killing on the police.

• Monday, April 28th 2014 - 23:29 UTC

  IAATO estimates 36.545 tourists will travel to Antarctica next season 2014/15

  

  New figures released on Monday by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), estimate that 36,545 tourists will travel with IAATO members to Antarctica next season, 2014-2015. The information was reported at the first day of the 37th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Brasilia, which IAATO attend as Invited Experts.