Stories for July 12th 2013

Friday, July 12th 2013 - 23:00 UTC
Maduro pledges his priority as Mercosur chair is the full active return of Paraguay

President Nicolas Maduro remembered former leader Hugo Chavez and pledged his main priority as president of Mercosur would be to ensure the quick return of Paraguay to the group. Maduro made the statement on Friday in Montevideo during the ceremony in which he received the official Mercosur presidency gavel from Uruguayan president Jose Mujica which means he will be holding the pro tempore chair for the next six months.
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 22:19 UTC
US Airways shareholders approve merger with American Airlines

US Airways shareholders voted to approve the carrier's merger with American Airlines' parent company, AMR Corp. on Friday morning. The formal part of the shareholder meeting in New York lasted about 15 minutes.
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 22:11 UTC
Despite lavish spending, health of the US population has fallen behind that of economic peers

The United States is falling behind its economic peers in most measures of health, despite making gains in the past two decades, according to a sweeping study of data from 34 countries.
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 22:05 UTC
German courts reject petition from hedge fund holders of Argentine debt

German courts have rejected a petition from bondholders related to the Argentine debt 'default', using a similar interpretation based in the 'pari passu' clause that hedge funds pursued in New York which was accepted by Judge Thomas Griesa.
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 21:06 UTC
Five-time champion Fangio Formula 1 Mercedes 196 auctioned for £ 19.6 million

Automotive history was made at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale on Friday when the car that took five-time champion Juan Manuel Fangio to the second of his Formula 1 world titles achieved a record-breaking figure of £19,601,500 (US$29,650,095, €22,701,864).
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 20:41 UTC
EU bio-diesel tariffs and China’s policy change threaten Argentina’s soy-oil industry

The export price of Argentine soy-oil has plummeted 21% so far this year, due to new European bio-diesel tariffs and China’s change of policy, putting one of the country's key industries at risk. Argentina is the world's top exporter of soy-oil, which is used to make bio-diesel.
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 20:17 UTC
Belonging to Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance is ‘not incompatible’ says Uruguay

Uruguay Vice-president Danilo Astori said that belonging to Mercosur and the Alliance of the Pacific is ‘not incompatible’ and called on the ‘powerful members’ of Mercosur to support an agreement with the Pacific Alliance of which Uruguay and Paraguay are already observers.
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 19:29 UTC
Chilean national strike in demand for improved labor conditions and free education

Protesters disrupted traffic in the Chilean capital and blocked access to mining operations Thursday as part of a national strike called by the country's main labor federation.
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 19:22 UTC
Rousseff bites back to protests: highway-blocking banned and organizers will be fined

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff reacted swiftly to the latest national stoppage saying that her government will not tolerate protests blocking highways or streets and with the Ministry of Justice will draft rules to fine those organizations responsible for such actions.
Friday, July 12th 2013 - 08:33 UTC
Mercosur social summit criticizes the Pacific Alliance and blasts free trade

The Mercosur social summit questioned any possible approach to the Alliance of the Pacific since it is an organization entirely dedicated to trade which would distract the Southern Cone countries from their social objectives.