Latin America

• Monday, February 24th 2014 - 05:00 UTC

  Insulza suggests 'outside players' could help reach an agreement in Venezuela

  

  Organization of American States, OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza has suggested the participation of 'outside players' in Venezuela to try and lower the pressure and consequences of the current situation in the country. Insulza made the suggestion in a letter published by several newspapers from the region, but underlining that it is Venezuelans that must reach an understanding to overcome the situation.

• Saturday, February 22nd 2014 - 07:11 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez ratifies solidarity with Venezuela: opposition should wait for next elections

  

  In a rally at the Buenos Aires province town of Florencio Varela, President Cristina Fernandez ratified Argentina’s “solidarity” with the Venezuelan government of President Nicolas Maduro, as the fifth Mercosur full member continues to be caught up in a wave of violent protests that have claimed the lives of 6 so far.

• Saturday, February 22nd 2014 - 06:28 UTC

  Argentine economy expanded 4.9% last year, according to government data

  

  The Argentine economy expanded 4.9% last year according to the official stats office Indec 'monthly economic growth indicator', EMAE, which is usually a good anticipation of the final figures. If confirmed Argentina will have grown uninterruptedly since the 2002 crisis, when the major default and melting of the economy.

• Saturday, February 22nd 2014 - 05:48 UTC

  Tall ships parade in Punta del Este; Mujica invited to a reception in ARA Libertad

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica is scheduled to attend a reception on Saturday at Argentina's tall ship Libertad, which together with several similar vessels is participating in the '2014 Latin American Sails' tour of thirteen Latin American and Caribbean ports, and on Friday arrived to Punta del Este.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 08:05 UTC

  Uruguay lowers growth estimate for 2014 to 3% of GDP; inflation still a challenge

  

  Uruguay's GDP this year is expected to expand by 3%, below the original estimate of 4%, according to Economy minister Mario Bergara currently in the United States on a tour to promote investments in the country and who was interviewed by Bloomberg.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 07:12 UTC

  Brazil announces budget spending cuts to meet primary budget surplus

  

  Brazil's government on Thursday announced 44 billion Reais (18.41 billion dollars) in spending cuts as it seeks to meet its primary budget surplus target for 2014. This year's cuts exceed the 38 billion Reais (some 15.9 billion) in budget reductions announced in 2013 and extend to all government departments except education, health, social development, and science and technology.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 06:52 UTC

  Maduro warns CNN 'change coverage' or they will be forced out of the country

  

  President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro has warned that if US-owned television station CNN do not change their coverage of protests they will be forced out of the country. “CNN has the objective of forcing a civil war in order to provoke the 'gringo' [US] army against our fatherland. Alert the entire country, alert,” the head of state warned, in a live television appearance this evening.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 06:46 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil fearful Venezuelan crowds in the streets could be contagious

  

  The current political crisis in Venezuela is rattling regional organizations, has two of the leading countries fearful of the crowds in the streets, while Latin American left wing populism believes there is a concerted right wing effort to destabilize the governments of Venezuela and Argentina, according to Argentine political analyst Rosendo Fraga.

• Friday, February 21st 2014 - 00:16 UTC

  Uruguayans want closer links and trade with the Falklands/Malvinas shows survey

  

  A majority of Uruguayans, 55%, believe their country must support Argentina's sovereignty claims over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands but an overwhelming 80% also want closer trade links with the Islands and reject the ban on Falklands flagged vessels to operate from Montevideo or other Uruguayan ports. In both cases neutral opinions range 11% and 12%.

• Thursday, February 20th 2014 - 04:11 UTC

  North American partners meet to celebrate NAFTA 20 years, but the agenda has many frictions

  

  US President Barack Obama joined the Mexican and Canadian leaders Wednesday for a North American summit focused on trade but marked by friction between the “three amigos”. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto shook hands with Obama in an ornate state government palace in Toluca, near Mexico City, for private one-on-one talks before Prime Minister Stephen Harper joined them later.