Latin America

• Thursday, May 9th 2013 - 22:52 UTC

  Argentina formalized next October mid-term elections; voting age down to 16 for the first time

  

  Argentina formalized on Thursday the call for this year's primary and legislative elections which will be held on 11 August and 27 October respectively and will see Argentines aged 16 vote for the first time.

• Thursday, May 9th 2013 - 22:48 UTC

  Major South America cruise industry fair moves to the Pacific, in Chile

  

  Valparaíso, Chile’s main port will be hosting the continental version of the Sea Trade Fair next May 14/15, a major cruise industry event which is celebrated every three years and for the first time in Chile. The previous meetings were held in Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires.

• Thursday, May 9th 2013 - 05:25 UTC

  Maduro says he is a ‘Kirchnerite president’ and Venezuela’s ‘second Peronist president’

  

  President Nicolas Maduro said he was a ‘Kirchnerite president’ and the ‘second Peronist president’ of Venezuela during a political rally with Argentine trade unions and militant groups in a packed Buenos Aires stadium to recall the figures of the deceased Hugo Chavez and Nestor Kirchner.

• Thursday, May 9th 2013 - 05:19 UTC

  Timerman corrects Astori: relations with Uruguay are going through ‘a good moment’

  

  Argentine Foreign minister Hector Timerman said that relations with Uruguay are going through “a good moment”, contrary to recent statements from Uruguayan Vice-president Danilo Astori, and described as ‘false’ the information that two Falklands’ flagged fishing vessels had called into Uruguayan ports.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:56 UTC

  Maduro promises Uruguay permanent supply of oil and full Mercosur commitment

  

  President Nicolas Maduro promised his Uruguayan counterpart Jose Mujica a “permanent” supply of petroleum from oil-rich Venezuela during the first leg of his visit to Mercosur member countries. Maduro also announced the signing of a strategic alliance in the energy sector with Uruguay.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:40 UTC

  First Latinamerican and BRIC representative next head of WTO

  

  Brazil's Roberto Azevedo has won the race to become the next head of the World Trade Organization, the first candidate from Latinamerica and from the BRIC club of emerging economies to take the job.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:29 UTC

  China fears a US/EU free trade area could become protectionist; looks to Latinamerica

  

  China has raised concerns about European Union plans to negotiate an ambitious free trade deal with the United States, fearing it is a protectionist move and at the same time Beijing new administration is doubling efforts towards Latinamerica and Africa.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:19 UTC

  Uruguay’s inflation in April eased for third month running, but remains above target

  

  Inflation in Uruguay during April slowed down for third month running, according to the latest release from the country’s Statistics Office, INE. Consumer prices in the fourth month of the year climbed 0.45% with inflation in the last twelve months reaching 8.14%, compare to 8.54% in March.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:15 UTC

  Chilean court finds naval officers guilty of abduction of Anglo-Chilean priest

  

  Chilean court has found two ex-navy officers guilty of the abduction of Anglo-Chilean priest Michael Woodward. The left-wing priest disappeared shortly after the coup that brought Gen Augusto Pinochet to power in 1973 and his body has never been found.

• Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 02:44 UTC

  Dollar in Argentina breaks 10 Pesos barrier, despite Cristina Fernandez and her “I want to leave” minister

  

  The ‘blue’ or parallel dollar in Argentina beat a new record on Tuesday by breaking the 10 Pesos milestone and ending trading at 10.08 Pesos. The official rate meantime remained relatively stable and closed at 5.16 and 5.21 Pesos (buying and selling price).