Politics

• Friday, March 8th 2013 - 08:41 UTC

  Falklands’ referendum observation mission has representatives from seven countries

  

  An impartial group of independent international observers, Referendum International Observation Mission (RIOM) will monitor the referendum on the political future of the Falkland Islands on Sunday and Monday, according to a release.

• Friday, March 8th 2013 - 08:25 UTC

  Falklands organizing grass root events to celebrate the referendum

  

  The Falkland Islands are arranging for three ‘grass roots’ events to celebrate the March10/11 referendum, when Islanders will decide on their political status and future of the Islands.

• Friday, March 8th 2013 - 08:13 UTC

  Emotional Cristina Fernandez back in Argentina misses Chavez funeral ceremony

  

  As world leaders were arriving at Caracas late Thursday for Friday’s funeral ceremony of President Hugo Chavez, Argentine president Cristina Fernandez and her delegation were back in Buenos Aires. The Argentine president visited the Military Hospital’s chapel Thursday noon for a final goodbye to the Venezuelan leader and then ordered the flight back to Buenos Aires.

• Friday, March 8th 2013 - 07:58 UTC

  Uruguay completes investment-grade ‘triple crown’ from the three big credit rating agencies

  

  Uruguay finally managed on Thursday to achieve investment grade debt rating from the three major agencies when Fitch raised the country’s rating to BBB-minus from BB-plus, citing economic resilience as well as the political and social stability of the country, squeezed between Brazil and Argentina.

• Friday, March 8th 2013 - 07:50 UTC

  IDB approves largest financial operation for Uruguay: 550 million dollars

  

  The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a 550 million dollars operation for Uruguay to fund the Program for Strategic International Positioning, which aims to substantially increase investment and exports by strengthening the regulatory and institutional framework, promoting and facilitating trade, and boosting entrepreneurial innovation.

• Friday, March 8th 2013 - 07:35 UTC

  Chavez to be embalmed ‘for eternity’; Maduro takes the oath as ‘acting’ president

  

  Venezuela's Hugo Chavez will be embalmed and put on display “for eternity” at a military museum after the state funeral and an extended period of lying in state, acting President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday.

• Friday, March 8th 2013 - 07:22 UTC

  Iranian president will attend Chavez funeral ceremony on Friday

  

  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected in Caracas early Friday on time to pay tribute to his late Venezuelan counterpart, Hugo Chavez, who died earlier this week after a two-year battle with cancer. Ahmadinejad left Tehran for Caracas on Thursday.

• Thursday, March 7th 2013 - 23:52 UTC

  Mujica calls for a “sensible attitude” from the US given the political situation in Venezuela

  

  Uruguayan president called for a “sensible attitude” from the United States given the new political situation in Venezuela following the death of leader Hugo Chavez and was also optimistic about the future of the country in the post Chavez era.

• Thursday, March 7th 2013 - 23:29 UTC

  Back in 1994 when Chavez visited Uruguay, “the current ruling coalition did not take him seriously”

  

  Uruguayan former president Jorge Batlle recalled in his Facebook column that when a still unknown Hugo Chavez visited Uruguay back in 1994, the now left-leaning ruling coalition didn’t take him seriously and the leader of the movement at the time General Liber Seregni did not receive him.

• Thursday, March 7th 2013 - 22:48 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez the only leader allowed to visit Chavez in hospital, but declined

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez was the only leader given the option of visiting the ailing Hugo Chavez in hospital but declined, according to Venezuelan independent journalist Nelson Bocaranda who was the first to make public the news, 19 months ago, that the charismatic leader was suffering cancer.