Politics

• Tuesday, May 20th 2014 - 08:07 UTC

  Pele admits tourists are cancelling trips to Brazil because of protests and delays

  

  Protests in Brazil and delays in building stadiums are putting the World Cup next month at risk and prompting tourists to stay away, soccer great Pele said on Monday. Brazil's tournament organizers have faced headwinds since the country was tapped to host the World Cup in 2007.

• Tuesday, May 20th 2014 - 08:00 UTC

  Metropolitan Buenos Aires majority disapproves of Cristina Fernandez, but she retains 36% support

  

  A clear majority of Argentines, 56%, in metropolitan Buenos Aires, which is the most densely populated area of the country, disapprove of President Cristina Fernandez, according to the latest public opinion poll made public but also 36% remain faithful and approve the performance of the controversial Argentine leader.

• Tuesday, May 20th 2014 - 07:31 UTC

  Venezuelan situation impedes Mercosur summit to take place in Caracas, says Almargo

  

  Uruguay Foreign Affairs minister Luis Almagro said that the political situation in Venezuela makes it quite improbable that the three-times postponed and since delayed Mercosur summit can effectively take place in Caracas sometime in the next two months.

• Monday, May 19th 2014 - 13:54 UTC

  People living longer, both in rich and poor countries, says latest WHO report

  

  People everywhere are living longer, according to the World Health Statistics 2014 published this week by the World Health Organization (WHO). Based on global averages, a girl who was born in 2012 can expect to live to around 73 years, and a boy to the age of 68. This is six years longer than the average global life expectancy for a child born in 1990.

• Monday, May 19th 2014 - 12:04 UTC

  British MEP alleges UK torpedoed Spain's 2020 Olympics' bid because of Gibraltar

  

  The British Government torpedoed Spain’s bid to host the 2020 Olympic Games as a reprisal for the Spanish Government’s hard line stance on Gibraltar, Sir Graham Watson has claimed.

• Monday, May 19th 2014 - 09:50 UTC

  Gibraltar: Spain hits back at UK accusing the Rock of increased tobacco smuggling

  

  The Spanish Government has accused Britain of failing to tackle a sharp rise in tobacco smuggling at the border. In a statement marking the six-month deadline set by the European Commission following its visit last year, Spain also said that cooperation with law enforcement agencies in Gibraltar had deteriorated.

• Monday, May 19th 2014 - 09:44 UTC

  New Commons' Defense Committee chairman supported by Labor and Lib-Dem

  

  Conservative MP Rory Stewart has been selected to chair the British House of Commons defense committee. In a short statement to the Commons, Speaker John Bercow said 479 MPs voted in the election for the post. In the final round of voting, Mr Stewart got 226 votes. His rival, Julian Lewis received 212 votes. There was one spoilt ballot paper.

• Monday, May 19th 2014 - 09:15 UTC

  Falkland Islands governor 'disrespectful' towards Argentina; Islanders would be better off under Argentina

  

  Argentine ambassador in London, Alicia Castro blasted Falklands Governor Colin Roberts claiming he has been disrespectful towards Argentina, insisted every country is aware that Argentina would never again invade the Falklands and underlined Islanders would be much better off under Argentine sovereignty since, “as all other provinces they could elect their own governor, and not have to live under an envoy from the Queen”.

• Monday, May 19th 2014 - 08:57 UTC

  Berlusconi claims he was forced out of office by a 'plot', according to Geithner's book

  

  Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he was forced out of office as a result of a “plot” by European Union officials. Berlusconi made the remarks last week following the publication of a book authored by former US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

• Monday, May 19th 2014 - 08:45 UTC

  Argentine Vice-president under criminal investigation; calls for Boudou to step down

  

  Argentine Vice-president Amado Boudou said he was not planning “an absence of leave” from office because that is not the style of President Cristina Fernandez' administration following a federal court confirmation of a criminal investigation into his alleged involvement in the sale of a minting company.