Politics

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 00:59 UTC

  Half the world consider Brazil has a positive influence on global affairs, says BBC poll

  

  The number of people who see Brazil as having a positive influence in the world is rising rapidly, according to a BBC World Service poll of 27 countries. The country is regarded positively by 49%, compared with 40% last year - the largest jump by any of the 16 nations respondents are asked to comment on.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 23:04 UTC

  Argentine thieves empty a house but take pity on victims and return a puppy

  

  Some thieves took pity on their victims and returned a puppy taken along with other loot from a house on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, the Argentine press reported.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 22:39 UTC

  China admits “labour surplus” of 32 million, 14 million of which college graduates

  

  China, normally contrary to releasing unemployment figures, has admitted to having a “labour surplus” of 32 million workers, according to Human Resources and Social Security minister Yin Weimin.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 11:15 UTC

  Falklands/Malvinas: Timerman calls for dialogue and lobbies G24 members

  

  Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman renewed Argentina’s claims over the disputed Falklands/Malvinas this time before the new authorities of the G-24 or UN Decolonization Committee, who according to Argentine sources rejected “all forms of colonialism and occupation”.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 05:05 UTC

  Argentina’s defence budget forecasted to reach 1.3% of GDP by 2015

  

  Argentina, similar to other Latin American countries, is increasing its defence budget at a robust pace, according to Research and Markets, a defence procurement news agency based in Alabama.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 04:58 UTC

  Refuge crisis in Libya: over a million people fleeing says UN

  

  More than one million people fleeing Libya and inside the country need humanitarian aid, the United Nations said on Monday. The figures were issued by the world body's aid coordinator Valerie Amos as a refugee crisis built up around the borders of the North African country where a rebellion broke out last month against the 42-year rule of Muammar Gaddafi.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 04:34 UTC

  Cyndi Lauper sings with stranded passengers in Buenos Aires airport

  

  After flights in Buenos Aires were cancelled time after time on Friday, '80s singing icon Cyndi Lauper took to the airport's announcement system to perform for her fellow stranded passengers.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 04:23 UTC

  Kirchnerites’ deny any intention from Cristina to run for a third period

  

  Political associates reiterated that there are no intentions of Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to seek for a third period if the Head of State should end re-elected on next October presidential elections. For such purpose a constitutional amendment would be needed.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 02:30 UTC

  Over 15.600 mines in 83 fields remain in the Falkland Islands, says UK Defence

  

  Some 83 minefields and suspected hazardous areas remain in the Falkland Islands with over 15.600 mines remaining, which were laid by the Argentine forces during their 74 day occupation of the South Atlantic Islands in 1982.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 00:08 UTC

  Irish farmers occupy EU offices in Dublin to protest trade talks with Mercosur

  

  Irish farmers occupied Monday afternoon the offices of the European Commission in Dublin, over fears of a multibillion-Euro threat to the livestock industry from Mercosur.