Politics

Monday, July 22nd 2013 - 00:22 UTC
Scandal-hit Vatican bank struck by ‘gay lobby’ conspiracy claims Italian magazine

A few hours before Francis started his first overseas tour to Brazil, the Vatican’s ‘gay lobby’ was back in the headlines after the alleged exposure of a homosexual prelate appointed by the pope to a key position at the Vatican bank, IOR.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 06:34 UTC
Falkland Islands brought into the IMF-siding-with-Argentina controversy

The IMF decision to side with Argentina in its dispute with the US hedge funds has triggered strong criticism in the UK and the issue was brought up in Parliament, according to a piece in the Daily and Sunday Express under the heading: “The British cash cow: Fury as UK money helps Argentina fight £66bn debt”.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 06:27 UTC
UK embassy and Buenos Aires City sponsor English language teachers contest

A contest for English language teachers in the city of Buenos Aires is part of 'English Week' that will run from 23 to 28 September. The “English Week contest” has been launched by the Buenos Aires City Foreign Language Operational Office (Dirección Operativa de Lenguas Extranjeras GCBA) and the English Teachers Association of Buenos Aires (APIBA, in Spanish) to enable teachers in the city to share the intercultural experiences of their students.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 06:15 UTC
Argentine defaulted bond holders demand ‘strict neutrality’ from the IMF

A group of Argentine sovereign defaulted bond-holders have blasted the IMF for its announced intention of filing an amicus brief in support of Argentina before the US courts stating that “there is no role for direct involvement by the IMF in this matter” and any intervention by the IMF “favouring Argentina's request would also clearly violate the Fund's strict commitment to neutrality”.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 06:11 UTC
Argentina’s economic activity picks up 7.8% in May and 4.1% in first five months

Argentina's economic activity jumped 7.8% in May from a year earlier, according to the country’s questioned stats office, Indec. President Cristina Fernandez had anticipated the news earlier in the week in a televised speech.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 06:03 UTC
Argentina/hedge funds dispute: US will not file ‘uninvited’ brief to Supreme Court

The Barack Obama administration won’t file a brief next week urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Argentina’s appeal in a clash with implications for tens of billions of dollars in defaulted debt, according to a Justice Department spokesman.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:57 UTC
Brazil the seventh most violent country; in 30 years homicides soared 132%, says Map of Violence

More than one million people were murdered in Brazil between 1980 and 2011, making it the world’s seventh-most violent country, according to the Map of Violence survey. In that period the homicides soared 132% to claim 1,145,208 lives, from a rate of 11.5 murders for 100,000 inhabitants in 1980 to 27 per 100,000 in 2011.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:46 UTC
Money exchange controls limit Argentines from travelling to Brazil to greet Pope Francis

Despite the pope is Argentine and on Monday he will be making his first pastoral trip overseas to Brazil, Argentine government strict currency controls are making it difficult for prospective pilgrims to travel. An estimated 60.000 Argentines are expected to travel to Rio do Janeiro for the grand event.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:42 UTC
Operation clean up to reform scandal–plagued Vatican administration

Pope Francis, moving to overcome major crises in the Holy See, set up a special commission to reform its economic and administrative departments, the Vatican said on Friday.
Saturday, July 20th 2013 - 05:35 UTC
Fitch maintains Brazil’s debt outlook ‘stable’ and minister says the report was ‘fair’

Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said that Fitch's decision to maintain the country’s debt outlook at stable was “fair” given Brazil robust finances and lesser debt burden.