President Luis Lacalle Pou told his country's Parliament Saturday that Uruguay needed to open up to the world. In his last accountability for the year speech as head of state before Parliament, he also singled out Argentina and Brazil for “blocking” Mercosur agreements and insisted on the importance of achieving fiscal goals, low inflation, employment growth, educational transformation, and making the regional bloc more flexible.
Business owners in the city of Gualeguaychú in the Argentine province of Entre Ríos are foreseeing increasing losses after the latest economic measures by President Javier Milei's administration have resulted in fewer Uruguayans crossing the border to do their shopping as prices are no longer considerably lower.
The city of Corrientes, the capital of the Argentine province of the same name, was left under water Sunday as 209 millimeters of heavy rains caused floods and material damage while vehicles were swept away by the current. Classes were suspended for Monday amid widespread power outages, with streets turned into temporary rivers.
The Greek company Tsakos announced it was closing its naval operations in Uruguay but will keep other investments in the South American country, it was reported in Montevideo after early versions that the firm was departing altogether.
A study released Sunday by the Argentine Confederation of Medium-Sized Companies (CAME) showed a 25.5% interannual decline at constant prices in retail sales in Argentina and a 27% drop for the first two months of 2024, it was reported in Buenos Aires. The Index of Retail Sales of SMEs also mentioned a 7.4% setback from January, when a 6.4% monthly decrease had been recorded.
US State Department Global Anti-Corruption Coordinator Richard Nephew arrived in Paraguay Sunday in his second visit to the South American country, Asunción's Última Hora reported. Starting Monday, he is to meet with government officials to analyze current challenges and identify other areas of possible collaboration.
Argentine President Javier Milei Friday announced he was summoning the governors of the 23 provinces plus the mayor of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires as well as former heads of state and other political leaders to sign on the national May 25 holiday what he named “the May Pact,” a foundational agreement whereby the rules of the country's future would be laid out. He launched this appeal during his speech opening the 142nd Legislature.
According to a report released Friday by Brazil’s Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the gross domestic product (GDP) in South America's largest country grew by 2.9% in 2023 driven by a record 15.1% expansion in the agricultural sector. It was the most significant leap since the beginning of the series in 1995. Industry (1.6%) and services (2.4%) also saw an improvement.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Friday brought before the United Nations a proposal from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) to end “the genocide” in the Gaza Strip. During his speech at the 8th Celac Summit in Kingstown (St Vincent and the Grenadines), the South American leader also referred to the situation in the Middle East as a “carnage.”
Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora said Friday in Kingstown (St. Vincent and the Grenadines), said that strengthening the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) and every regional integration space was the only alternative to war to fend off any foreign interference seeking the return to the already outlawed colonial order. He made those remarks during his speech at the 8th Celac Summit.