
Brazil's popular but scandal-weary former leader Lula da Silva endorsed Argentina's ruling party presidential candidate on Wednesday, identifying Daniel Scioli's credentials with the political left, and hoping the current project “that began in 2003 is re-elected”. The former president was also full of praise for president Cristina Fernandez.

Queen Elizabeth has thanked well-wishers in the UK and overseas for their “touching messages of kindness” as she becomes Britain's longest-reigning monarch. Speaking in the Scottish Borders, the 89-year-old monarch said the title was “not one to which I have ever aspired”.

Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan wastes no time in slamming Michel Platini as he announces his bid to succeed Sepp Blatter as head of world football's governing body. After hinting at a second run for the FIFA presidency at the Soccerex Global Convention in Manchester on Monday, the Jordanian officially launched his campaign on Wednesday in Amman.

European countries must support the United Nations’ proposals for sovereign debt restructuring! – Open letter to the UN by 19 economists.On Thursday September 10, the United Nations General Assembly will vote on nine principles concerning the restructuring of sovereign debts.

Brazil's former president Lula da Silva was pictured holding Pope Francis' poster calling for dialogue in the 'Malvinas issue'.

Pope Francis, making the most substantial changes to Catholic marriage annulment procedures in centuries, on Tuesday radically simplified them and said bishops should give greater help to divorced couples.

Germany said it could take half a million refugees annually over several years as Greek islands struggled on Tuesday to process a huge backlog of migrants desperate to travel to western Europe. Reflecting deepening concern, the European Union's president warned the EU faced a years-long refugee crisis, while the UN urged countries worldwide to help tackle the problem.

Analysts expect Brazil's economy to contract by 2.44% this year, marking the worst performance since 1990, and inflation will hit 9.29%, the Central Bank said Tuesday. The latest figures represent a downward revision from last week, when analysts expected Latin America's largest economy to contract by 2.26% and inflation to come in at 9.28%.

Paraguay’s three branches of government agreed on Monday that Asuncion bears no obligation to repay $85 million borrowed by a representative of the late Gen. Alfredo Stroessner during the waning years of the 1954-1989 military regime.

Former Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina will face prosecution for his alleged role in a customs fraud scandal that has rocked the country for months, a federal judge announced on Tuesday. The decision comes just days after Perez Molina resigned from office amid growing national outrage over corruption in the government.