MercoPress

Maduro admits to knowing “the IDs and all” of the 900.000 Chavistas who did not vote for him

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:57:00 GMT

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro admitted to knowing ‘with IDs and all’ who are the 900.000 Chavistas who crossed lines and did not vote for him in the 14 April election which anointed him as the successor of deceased Hugo Chavez.

Venezuelan oil monopoly in joint ventures with Chevron and China Petroleum

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:53:00 GMT

PDVSA, Venezuela’s government oil and gas giant will allow joint ventures with China National Petroleum Corp. and Chevron Corp. to manage 6 billion dollars in loans designed to revert oil output declines, said a PDVSA official.

Argentine Antarctic campaigns disarray and corruption claims turn off recruiting

Sat, 18 May 2013 06:21:00 GMT

Argentina’s Antarctica campaigns are losing their flair and the country is having difficulties to fill vacancies for the 2013/14 season. This follows repeated claims of alleged corruption and delays in supplying the bases and stations plus an overall lack of support from the Defence ministry.

“Blue” dollar in Argentina picks up in last day of trading and reaches 8.95 Pesos

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:35:00 GMT

In the last business day of the week in Buenos Aires, the parallel market or ‘blue’ dollar rose to 8.95 Pesos (selling price) after its declining tendency during the week, while the official rate ended steady at exchange houses at 5.245 Pesos (selling price). The gap between the two markets stands at over 70%.

Argentina forces cancellation of all Lan flights by suspending ground services

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:30:00 GMT

LAN Chile halted on Friday all its flights in Argentina until Saturday morning after the state company Intercargo which provides ground support for the airline, unilaterally decided to cancel the service despite court orders to the contrary.

Colombian president Santos announces he will seek second term

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:51:00 GMT

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos gave advance notice Friday that he will seek a second term in the 2014 elections, though he added that, in compliance with the law, he will not make the formal announcement until six months prior to the vote.

Argentine ex-military dictator sentenced to life, Jorge Videla dies in jail cell

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:58:00 GMT

Jorge Rafael Videla, a former army commander who led Argentina during the bloodiest period of a “dirty war” dictatorship and was unrepentant about kidnappings and murders ordered by the state, died on Friday at age 87.

Argentina’s ‘autarkic project’ worsens bilateral relations and multiplies problems

Fri, 17 May 2013 06:51:00 GMT

In an interview with the Spanish government news agency EFE, Uruguayan President José “Pepe” Mujica said Argentina’s economic “autarkic project” “worsens” bilateral ties and “multiplies” trade troubles. Still, he ruled out pressures on Buenos Aires; “they won’t work,” he insisted.

Argentine whitewash bill turning into ugly electoral debate

Fri, 17 May 2013 06:46:00 GMT

Argentina’s whitewashing bill or more modestly ‘tax amnesty’ has joined the political debate of the coming October mid-term elections. The tax revenue bureau or AFIP confirmed taxpayers’ “legitimate externalization right” “will not be affected” even in the “hypothetical case that the opposition manages to rally a majority parliamentary stance” after October’s legislative elections.

Pope Francis condemned the global ‘cult of money’ and the ‘new idols’

Fri, 17 May 2013 06:40:00 GMT

Pope Francis has condemned the global "cult of money" and urged world leaders to do more for the poor. In his first major speech on finance and the economy, the pontiff said money should be made to “serve” people, not to “rule” them.