Latin America

• Friday, June 14th 2013 - 00:12 UTC

  Chile and UK hold annual round of defense talks in London

  

  Chile and the UK held a round of defense talks in London at the end of May as part of the defense and security agreements between the two countries. The talks took place at the Ministry of Defense and were hosted by the UK Minister for International Security Strategy, Dr. Andrew Murrison.

• Thursday, June 13th 2013 - 23:49 UTC

  Paraguay and Mexico advancing towards an economic complementation accord

  

  Technical groups from Paraguay and Mexico advanced on Wednesday talks for the creation of an Economic complementation Accord in the framework of the Latam Integration Association, ALADI, which is considered the “step previous to a full free trade treaty”, reported from Asuncion Paraguay’s foreign ministry.

• Thursday, June 13th 2013 - 22:22 UTC

  Peruvian president Humala wants the US as observer of the Pacific Alliance

  

  Peruvian president Ollanta Humala said he favoured the incorporation of the United States as observer to the Alliance of the Pacific, a free trade, pro-business and open market group made up of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.

• Wednesday, June 12th 2013 - 07:39 UTC

  Obama and Humala working closely on finalizing the Trans Pacific Partnership

  

  President Barack Obama welcomed Peruvian counterpart Ollanta Humala to the White House on Tuesday, in Washington's latest effort to meet a deadline to seal a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Humala praised the Obama administration for its open attitude in addressing strategic issues.

• Wednesday, June 12th 2013 - 07:35 UTC

  Argentina ratifies primary elections August 11, including for the controversial Counsel of Magistrates

  

  The Argentine government ratified that open and simultaneous primary elections, ahead of October’s mid term election, as established by law in the electoral calendar, will be held next August 11, despite the current wave of injunctions against a reform of the Magistrates Counsel (responsible for naming, sanctioning and firing judges) which contemplates the election of its members by universal suffrage on the same dates.

• Wednesday, June 12th 2013 - 07:24 UTC

  Venezuela’s electoral council ratifies Maduro victory; Capriles appeals to Supreme Court

  

  Venezuela's National Electoral Council said an audit of the results of presidential elections in April confirmed President Nicolas Maduro did win by 1.5 percentage points, despite opposition claims that the vote was fraudulent.

• Wednesday, June 12th 2013 - 07:20 UTC

  China set eyes on Latam agriculture to promote cooperation and food security

  

  China is determined to strongly stimulate agriculture cooperation with Latin America to improve bilateral trade in the field, develop farming technology and improve productivity. This was the main conclusion of the recent China/Latinamerica Agriculture Cooperation Forum held in Beijing which convened over twenty Agriculture ministers from the region with host minister Han Changfu.

• Tuesday, June 11th 2013 - 21:57 UTC

  Israel and Colombia sign far reaching free trade agreement

  

  Israel and Colombia this week signed in Jerusalem a free trade treaty to increase trade and promote investments in the fields of technology. The treaty which was reached after fifteen years of intense negotiations now needs legislative approval which should be accomplished by early 2014 according to Israeli political sources.

• Monday, June 10th 2013 - 21:43 UTC

  Bachelet pledges new legitimate, transparent constitution, plus fiscal and education reforms

  

  Former Chilean president (2006/2010) and Socialist candidate, Michelle Bachelet (61), pledged to elaborate a new constitution during her first year in office, if she is elected in the coming November presidential election.

• Monday, June 10th 2013 - 12:41 UTC

  Brazilian economy eroding Rousseff’s support, but remains favourite for 2014 election

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's approval rating fell for the first time since her term began in January 2011 as concern about inflation and sluggish economic growth grew. Rousseff's presidency was rated as “good” or “excellent” fell to 57% from 65% in the previous poll.