Stories for July 2015

Friday, July 17th 2015 - 07:14 UTC
Uruguay after a Mercosur 'action plan' to eliminate all inter-trade restrictions

Uruguay is attending the Mercosur summit in Brazil hoping the group implements deep changes, particularly referred to the free circulation of goods, services and production factors, and considers a six month period should be sufficient trial for the changes to become effective.
Friday, July 17th 2015 - 06:57 UTC
Comparing FIFA to the mafia “is almost insulting to the mafia”. US Senate grills soccer federation

Comparing FIFA to the mafia is “almost insulting to the mafia”, a US senator said, turning up the heat on football's corruption-tainted world governing body to reform. Richard Blumenthal made the remark at a Senate subcommittee hearing scrutinizing FIFA, after US authorities in May indicted 14 people - including top football officials over tens of millions of dollars of alleged bribes for media rights contracts.
Friday, July 17th 2015 - 06:42 UTC
Falklands' Premier secures two blocks in Mexico's oil industry privatization

Premier Oil, with strong involvement in the development of the Falkland Islands' oil and gas industry is among the winners in the first round of Mexico’s oil and gas privatization. The two licences secured by the London listed oil firm’s consortium were the only assets successfully auctioned by the Mexican authorities.
Friday, July 17th 2015 - 06:19 UTC
Argentine economy showing slight improvement but still delicate, says IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) slightly improved its outlook on Argentina’s economy saying the country will grow 0.1% in 2015 and will remain stagnant in 2016. Nevertheless, IMF warned the country is going through a “very delicate” situation and insisted that the improved outlook doesn’t change its views regarding Argentina.
Friday, July 17th 2015 - 06:01 UTC
Yellen says Fed remains on track to raise interest rates this year

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the US central bank remains on track to raise interest rates this year, with labor markets expected to steadily improve and turmoil abroad unlikely to throw the US economy off track.
Friday, July 17th 2015 - 05:49 UTC
“Sea for Bolivia” and “Malvinas for Argentina” pledges president Evo Morales

Bolivian president Evo Morales defended his claim of “sea for Bolivia” and “Malvinas for Argentina”, during the last of his two-day very militant visit to Argentina before flying late Thursday to Brazil for the Mercosur summit.
Friday, July 17th 2015 - 05:28 UTC
Argentine Judge who ordered a raid of Cristina Fernandez's businesses, was removed

An Argentine judge who on Monday ordered a raid of real estate offices belonging to the son of President Cristina Fernandez, on an ongoing probe into money laundering and tax elusion, was removed from the case on Thursday. A Federal court ruled the nullity of the order issued by Judge Claudio Bonadio after a presentation by Romina Mercado, niece of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and who also happens to figure as the head of the Hotesur company under investigation.
Friday, July 17th 2015 - 04:48 UTC
Brazil's corruption scandals reach Lula da Silva: probe into influence peddling

Prosecutors in Brazil have announced a probe into possible influence peddling by former president Lula da Silva, involving the construction firm Odebrecht which is one of Latin America's largest engineering company. The investigation will center on Lula's alleged use of his clout after leaving office to help scandal-ridden construction giant Odebrecht land billion-dollar contracts in Latin America and Africa.
Thursday, July 16th 2015 - 13:01 UTC
Argentine industrial activity in May contracts for the nineteenth month running

Argentine May industrial activity was up 0.4% over April but down 3.8% in May compared to a year ago and in the first five months of 2015 has contracted 2.6%, according to the monthly survey from the Argentine Industrial Union, UIA, released on Wednesday.
Thursday, July 16th 2015 - 09:28 UTC
Paraguay, as chair of the group, determined to return Mercosur to 'its roots'

Paraguay is committed to return Mercosur to 'its roots', reach an agreement on some of the original fundamentals, eliminate restrictions to inter-trade and strongly promote the trade accord with the European Union. This is scheduled to take place in the coming six months once Paraguay is handed Mercosur' chair at the group's midyear presidential summit that begins on Thursday in Brasilia.