Latin America is reaching a quiet but remarkable turning point, one that, though occurring without much fanfare, has significant historical resonance. This past weekend, voters in several Latin American countries participated in national and local elections, and the process unfolded for the most part peacefully. That in itself is an achievement. But what is most noteworthy is that the outcomes of the elections were decided by the actual votes cast, and by extension the voters, rather than Read more [...]

The ongoing El Niño will continue to be a major factor in the weather across South America as frequent rainfall leads to new flooding events in parts of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil this summer. Elsewhere, infrequent rainfall will bring little or no relief to drought-stricken Chile and northern Brazil. Surges of heat that build across the interior of Brazil will frequent Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and Read more [...]

Argentina, still without the injured Lionel Messi and goalless in their opening two 2018 World Cup qualifiers, recalled striker Gonzalo Higuain yesterday for next month’s games against Brazil and Colombia. Coach Gerardo Martino dropped the Napoli marksman earlier in October for the South American group matches from which Argentina took one point after a shock 2-0 home defeat by Ecuador followed by a 0-0 draw in Paraguay. Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was missing from the squad because Read more [...]

MUNSTER LOOK SET to sign Argentina outside back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino on a short term deal. The former Leicester, Oyonnax, Montpellier and Cardiff Blues winger will arrive as a “medical joker”, for three to four months, confirming the news to ESPN South America. Gonzalez Amorosino can play either on the wing or at fullback, and has featured in four of the country’s six World Cup games to date, but was an unused substitute in the win against Ireland in the quarter-final. The 29-year-old – Read more [...]

In soccer, a "golazo" is a superhuman goal, sort of like the soccer version of the Willie Mays catch from the 1954 World Series. I always think of Pele when I think of a "golazo". They had the political equivalent of a "golazo" down in Argentina. The opposition candidate shocked the experts by forcing a runoff.   This is from Pan Am Post: After six hours of radio silence, Argentina’s election authorities finally unveiled the results of the presidential vote, shocking the nation. All Read more [...]

Image copyright AFP Image caption Daniel Scioli (left) and Mauricio Macri (right) will face each other in November The two men bidding to be Argentina's next president have begun their campaigns for November's run-off vote. The Read more [...]

Continued from page 1Mr. Massa, meanwhile, has so far kept mum on which candidate — if any — he might endorse in the coming runoff.“In three weeks Argentines will have to choose a new path,” he told the crowd at his election night rally. “We know the role we play. In the next hours we will get together [to announce] what we are going to do.”But how he aligns his loyalties may depend less on ideology and more on his personal ambitions, said Joaquin Morales Sola, a prominent columnist with Read more [...]

Despite it being the battle for the tournament’s third-placed team, the Rugby World Cup’s Bronze Final looks set to be a David v Goliath bout – in terms of reputation at least. Two-time winners South Africa will take on relative minnows Argentina, who defied expectations to reach only their second ever RWC semi-final. The Olympic Stadium is set to host the two nations at 8pm on Friday October 30 , with a carnival atmosphere expected for the ground’s autumn showpiece. Here’s everything Read more [...]

Diego Maradona celebrates with the Pumas following their quarter-final victory Even the election rallies 7,000 miles away, as Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner stepped down after eight years as Argentina’s president, would have struggled to generate an electricity to match the fervour attached to this Pumas campaign. If the supposed neutrals at Twickenham seemed united behind the Argentine cause, then it was because Daniel Hourcade’s team have woven a romantic thread through the tournament like Read more [...]

By Taos Turner Mauricio Macri speaks to journalists after casting his vote in Buenos Aires. Victor R. Caivano/Associated Press The business-friendly mayor of Argentina’s capital won enough votes in Sunday’s election to trigger the first presidential runoff in the country’s history, dealing a startling setback to the populist ruling party. The unexpected showing by Mauricio Macri, 56, the center-right mayor of Buenos Aires, took pollsters and the country’s political Read more [...]