Politics

• Thursday, October 9th 2014 - 06:38 UTC

  YPF admits contacts with Russia's Gazprom but no accord or MOU has been reached

  

  Argentina's state-run energy company YPF admitted on Wednesday having held promising meetings with Russia's Gazpron to consider different collaboration and business opportunities, “but so far has not signed any Memorandum of Understanding, MOU or agreement”.

• Thursday, October 9th 2014 - 06:08 UTC

  Mercosur finally agrees: unified number plates for new cars beginning 2016

  

  The five full members of the Mercosur trade bloc will use unified number plates for their 0km vehicles starting in 2016, Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman announced on Wednesday from San Martín Palace in Buenos Aires city.

• Wednesday, October 8th 2014 - 22:23 UTC

  Australia's capital Canberra, the best place in the world to live, says OECD

  

  The Australian Capital Territory of Canberra in Australia is the best place in the world to live, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Canberra led the regional ranking while Australia topped the overall country rankings, followed by Norway.

• Wednesday, October 8th 2014 - 21:46 UTC

  OAS Observers mission to Peru recommends unifying electoral legislation

  

  The head of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission in Peru, Uruguayan Senator Sergio Abreu underlined the orderly way in which Peruvians went to vote on Sunday's regional and municipal elections, this despite some regrettable episodes of violence in the pre-election phase, Election Day at some polling stations, and at the conclusion of voting in some departments.

• Wednesday, October 8th 2014 - 08:38 UTC

  Brazilian pollsters missed percentages but 'confirmed tendencies'

  

  Although pollsters in Brazil got it right with President Dilma Rousseff victory and the growth tendency of runner up Aecio Neves in the last days leading to Sunday's presidential election, they failed dismally in percentage estimates.

• Wednesday, October 8th 2014 - 08:24 UTC

  Uruguay presidential race to be decided in runoff in November seems confirmed by latest poll

  

  A run off in November to elect Uruguay's president seems most certain because none of the two leading candidates will manage a majority in the first round on 26 October, according to the latest public opinion poll.

• Wednesday, October 8th 2014 - 08:16 UTC

  Whoever wins Uruguayan election, no major changes in policy, says US bank

  

  Under the heading of “Emerging markets prospects and strategy” the US bank group JPMorgan-Chase states that no matter who wins in Uruguay's 26 October presidential election, “we do not expect significant changes in the framework of current policy”.

• Wednesday, October 8th 2014 - 07:54 UTC

  IMF keeps Uruguay's growth estimate for this year, but lowers 2015

  

  The International Monetary Fund kept Uruguay's growth estimate for this year at 2.8% but lowered the forecast for 2015 to 2.8% from 3%, according to the latest World Economic Outlook. Last year the Uruguayan economy expanded 4% and the government's target for this year is 3%.

• Wednesday, October 8th 2014 - 07:51 UTC

  Argentina needs an “urgent change of course” and better relations with financial markets

  

  The Argentine economy needs an urgent change of course which would have the effect of reestablishing normal relations with the financial market, a crucial step to open a maneuvering space in an ever more complex environment, suggested Augusto de la Torre, World Bank chief economist for Latin America.

• Wednesday, October 8th 2014 - 04:05 UTC

  World Bank: end of boom doesn’t have to mean a bust for the poor in Latin America

  

  During the recent commodity boom, Latin America and the Caribbean proved that growth could be pro-poor and help fuel tremendous social progress. Now as growth slows regionally and beyond, it is critical to consider what will shore up economic activity while ensuring the poor won't stay behind.