Latin America

Friday, April 19th 2013 - 06:37 UTC
Electoral council extends auditing to all Sunday votes; Capriles accepts

Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, CNE said on Thursday it would audit votes cast in weekend presidential elections after an opposition challenge to the victory accorded to President-elect Nicolas Maduro.
Friday, April 19th 2013 - 05:03 UTC
Two million Argentines across the country join the biggest anti-government protest in years

Almost two million Argentines marched on Thursday evening across the country’s cities and towns in one of the biggest anti-government protests in years highlighting public anger over a deteriorating economy, corruption, street crime and President Cristina Fernandez efforts to reform the media, the courts and the constitution so she can bid for a third consecutive four year mandate.
Friday, April 19th 2013 - 03:14 UTC
May peace prevail: Cristina and Mujica fly together to Peru on Tango 01

Sooner than expected Argentine President Cristina Fernandez seems to have accepted her Uruguayan peer Jose Mujica’s apologies following his coarse words: “this old lady is worse than the one-eyed man” to refer to the Argentine leader and her late husband Nestor Kirchner.
Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 21:39 UTC
“Democracy in Paraguay is here to stay: Mercosur and Unasur have become irrelevant”

“We’re optimistic about Sunday’s election and the future of Paraguay if we can agree on long term state policies, but something is for certain: democracy in Paraguay is here to stay” said Ricardo Caballero Aquino, Chargé d’affaires of the Paraguayan embassy in Montevideo who was also positive about future relations with Unasur and Mercosur.
Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 16:51 UTC
Brazil increases benchmark rate to fight inflation, but markets feel it’s not enough

Brazil’s central bank on Wednesday raised its benchmark rate for the first time since July 2011 as policy makers seek to slow inflation levels. The bank’s board, led by President Alexandre Tombini, voted 6-to-2 to increase the Selic rate 25 basis points to 7.50% from a record low.
Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 10:19 UTC
Urgent meeting of Unasur in Lima to express support for Venezuela’s Maduro

Argentine President Cristina Fernández will travel to Lima for a UNASUR meeting on Thursday in which regional countries are expected to express their support for the elections results in Venezuela and President elect Nicolas Maduro.
Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 05:39 UTC
Paraguay elects president on Sunday but return to Unasur still distant

Paraguay will be electing a new president on Sunday and its re-incorporation to the Union of South American Nations, Unasur could happen under the new government anticipated Salomon Lerner, chief observer of the regional group.
Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 05:30 UTC
Cartes and Alegre with best chances of becoming Paraguayan president on Sunday

On Thursday evening all of Paraguayan presidential candidates will be holding their final rallies after which begins a 48-hour ban of all electoral activities ahead of Sunday’s general election. Two candidates outstand in the dispute, Horacio Cartes from the Colorado party and Efrain Alegre from the ruling coalition headed by the Liberals.
Thursday, April 18th 2013 - 02:47 UTC
IMF admits price-asset bubbles tells Latam financial sector ‘to keep their guard up’

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated on Wednesday that both financial and banking sectors in Latin America “should keep their guards up” before the recent and fast growth of the credit, though the lender doesn’t see any overheat of the region’s economy.
Wednesday, April 17th 2013 - 23:59 UTC
US holding back recognition of Maduro who said “we couldn’t care less”

The United States held back recognition of President-elect Nicolas Maduro and called on the Venezuelan government on Wednesday to respect the right of free assembly after violence at opposition protests over a disputed election.