Latin America

Friday, August 24th 2012 - 06:18 UTC
Paraguayan Senate defies Mercosur: votes against Venezuela’s incorporation

The Paraguayan Senate, at the heart of serious regional diplomatic dispute, voted by a solid majority against the incorporation of Venezuela as full member of Mercosur. Thirty one Senators rejected the Venezuelan Protocol of Adhesion, three supported it and eleven left the floor before the vote was taken.
Friday, August 24th 2012 - 05:49 UTC
Correa recalls the UK non extradition of Pinochet on “humanitarian reasons”

Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said that Britain's failure to extradite former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet more than a decade ago means it has no right to lecture others over the fate of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Friday, August 24th 2012 - 05:44 UTC
Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa sounds the bugle

By Sean Burges (*) Is Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa really saying that we cannot trust the judicial systems in Britain and Sweden? By granting Julian Assange asylum, he has implicitly stated the British judicial process is flawed and that Sweden is a slavish servant of the US government.
Friday, August 24th 2012 - 05:15 UTC
Colombia changes Finance minister but confirms open-economy business friendly policy

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos moved Energy Minister Mauricio Cardenas to head the finance post on Thursday in a surprise move. At the midpoint of his four-year term, Santos asked all 16 ministers to resign, including Finance Minister Juan Carlos Echeverry, and set the stage for a cabinet shuffle aimed at shoring up his slumping approval ratings.
Friday, August 24th 2012 - 00:54 UTC
Thousands of Chilean students march demanding education reform

Thousands of young Chileans marched peacefully on Thursday in different cities demanding education reform and equal conditions and rights for all young Chileans, amid a heightened police presence.
Thursday, August 23rd 2012 - 20:39 UTC
Company confirms abundant gas condensate in south Falklands and prepares new drilling program

Shares in Borders and Southern soared almost 20% on Thursday as the company revealed positive findings from the analysis of condensate fluids from its Darwin discovery well in the south of the Falkland Islands where it plans to continue appraisal drilling in 2014.
Thursday, August 23rd 2012 - 06:14 UTC
Chile’s 2013 budget based on 5% growth and copper at 3.06 dollars the pound

Chile is planning a 2013 budget with a tendency growth of 5% and an average long term basic copper price of 3.06 dollars the pound revealed finance minister Felipe Larraín together with Rosanna Costa, head of the Budget Office during a presentation before Congress.
Thursday, August 23rd 2012 - 01:59 UTC
OAS to dispatch mission to accompany and observe Paraguay’s political process

The Organization of American States (OAS) agreed on Wednesday to dispatch of a mission to Paraguay to accompany and observe the electoral process in the country that will conclude with the general elections of April 21, 2013.
Thursday, August 23rd 2012 - 01:52 UTC
“We need to prepare for war to live in peace”, says Paraguayan Defence minister

“We must prepare for war to live in peace” said Paraguay’s Defence minister Maria Liz Garcia in reference to the new geopolitical situation following the suspension of Paraguay as a member of Mercosur and Unasur.
Thursday, August 23rd 2012 - 01:20 UTC
Carter Centre absent as observer from Venezuelan October presidential election

The Atlanta based Carter Centre said this week that it declined an invitation from Venezuela's National Electoral Council to have a team at the country's Oct. 7 presidential election. The Centre said it received the invitation too late ”to evaluate it and organize the necessary experts and financing”.