Stories for July 2012

Monday, July 16th 2012 - 07:26 UTC
Chavez praises defence cooperation with Argentina, making Mercosur a military power block

President Hugo Chavez underlined the significance of the defence cooperation memorandum signed between Venezuela and Argentina which is part of “the necessary strategic integration of the armed forces in the framework of Mercosur and turning the block into a military power”.
Monday, July 16th 2012 - 07:24 UTC
Uruguayan Central bank poll shows economy is expected to grow at slower pace

The Uruguayan economy is set to grow 3.57% in 2012 which is below the government’s forecast according to the latest analysts and businesspeople poll published last Friday by the central bank.
Monday, July 16th 2012 - 07:20 UTC
Cuba says cholera outbreak in under control: 3 dead, 158 confirmed cases

The cholera outbreak in eastern Cuba is diminishing and has not spread to other parts of the country, said the government on Sunday.
Monday, July 16th 2012 - 07:11 UTC
Paraguay optimistic about the OAS report and its repercussions

Paraguay is optimistic about an Organization of American States resolution regarding recent events and the current situation in the country, despite strong criticism from other regional organizations such as Mercosur and Unasur.
Monday, July 16th 2012 - 07:05 UTC
European Parliament begins fact-finding mission in Paraguay

A delegation from the European parliament begins this Monday an in-situ data collecting mission in Paraguay following the situation triggered a month ago when then President Fernando Lugo was impeached and removed from office, but which has caused the new regime a certain freezing of international links.
Monday, July 16th 2012 - 03:43 UTC
Mining projects knock down Peruvian president approval ratings to new lows

Peruvian President Ollanta Humala's approval rating fell to a fresh low in July, a year since he took office as concern grows over his handling of increasingly violent social conflicts, an opinion poll showed.
Monday, July 16th 2012 - 03:29 UTC
Royal Navy largest ship, HMS Ocean begins her Olympic deployment

One hundred and fifty sailors and aircrew recreated the Olympic Rings on the flight deck of the Royal Navy's largest ship to mark the start of her Olympic deployment for the 2012 London Games.
Monday, July 16th 2012 - 03:21 UTC
Merkel confident Bundestag will support aid package for Spanish banks

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was confident that a majority of German lawmakers would back aid for Spain's ailing banking sector at a special sitting of the lower house Bundestag set for Thursday.
Monday, July 16th 2012 - 03:15 UTC
Mujica back steps: cannabis legal only “if 60% of public opinion supports idea”

Uruguayan president Jose Mujica has back stepped on his initiative to legalize marihuana conditioning it to an “ample support from public opinion”, at least 60%. The initiative was announced a few weeks ago during the Rio+20 summit and sent shockwaves in the region and worldwide.
Monday, July 16th 2012 - 03:05 UTC
Mercosur reduced to a group “of bear-hugging and kissing compañeros”

The influential British business and politics magazine The Economist anticipates that following the latest decisions by Mercosur, the South American group has little if any future. The Economist argues that the mounting protectionism and the rule-breaking admission of Venezuela have fatally undermined a once-promising trade block.