Latin America

• Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 22:12 UTC

  Venezuela main purchaser of weapons in 2012, but Brazil has largest defence budget

  

  The defence industry is booming in Latin America amid economic growth and greater concerns regarding national security, said the renowned security and defence consultancy firm IHS Jane's. Imports of weapons soared 16% in the subcontinent in 2008-2012, climbing from 3.42 billion to 3.96 billion dollars annually, the firm said in a report called “The Balance of Trade.”

• Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 21:02 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez regrets Uruguay is not part of Argentina and praises Uruguayan liberator

  

  President Cristina Fernandez deeply regretted that history did not allow Uruguay to be part of Argentina and blamed ‘so many other events that divided and separated’ the two neighbouring countries preventing them from being ‘a great, great nation’.

• Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 17:39 UTC

  Santos wants Mujica in Colombia to help with the peace reconciliation process

  

  President Juan Manuel Santos wants his Uruguayan peer Jose Mujica “much closer” to the Colombian peace process which is currently taking place in Cuba and has invited him to the country, said Foreign minister Maria Angela Holguin during a visit to Montevideo.

• Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 17:15 UTC

  Ecuador tells Washington to submit its position on Snowden case ‘in writing’

  

  Ecuador said on Wednesday the United States must “submit its position” regarding Edward Snowden to the Ecuadorian government in writing as it considers the former U.S. spy agency contractor's request for asylum. Ecuador, in a statement from its embassy in Washington, said it would review the request “responsibly”.

• Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 05:13 UTC

  Brazil’s top Justice suggests trimming the influence of political parties and an end to cupola deals

  

  The president of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Tribunal (Supreme Court) Joaquim Barbosa argued in favour of diminishing the influence of political parties in decisions referred to the Brazilian people’s interest and supports the introduction of what he called “puffs of popular expression” in the current political system.

• Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 05:07 UTC

  Massive protest expected in Belo Horizonte before the Brazil/Uruguay match

  

  Demanding better public services and angered by World Cup costs, about 100.000 people are expected at a protest Wednesday before Brazil plays Uruguay in the Confederations Cup semi-finals.

• Wednesday, June 26th 2013 - 04:58 UTC

  Brazil: understanding with Congress to hold a reforms’ plebiscite on 7 September

  

  The Brazilian executive apparently has reached an understanding with the presidents of the Senate and the Lower House, Renan Calheiros and Henrique Eduardo Alves for a plebiscite with several questions referred to changes in electoral and party legislation, and eventually the Constitution relative to the political organization of South America’s largest country and powerhouse.

• Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 20:52 UTC

  Mercosur suspension was rather beneficial for Paraguay, reveals President Franco

  

  Mercosur partners’ sanctions on Paraguay rather benefited than hindered the country, said President Federico Franco during a press conference in which he underlined the country had become more reliable and this was supported by a three fold increase in foreign investments.

• Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 20:25 UTC

  Paraguay claims Mercosur pro-tempore chair and thanks EU for political support

  

  President elect Horacio Cartes revealed in Spain that Paraguay is claiming the pro-tempore chair of Mercosur, argued that Venezuela is an ‘illegitimate’ member of the trade group and said Paraguay is en route to becoming full member of the Pacific Alliance.

• Tuesday, June 25th 2013 - 18:28 UTC

  Piñera opens joint-largest wind-farm in the north of Chile

  

  President Sebastian Piñera inaugurated Chile’s joint-largest wind farm at an official ceremony. The 90MW Talinay East facility is owned by Italy’s Enel Green Power and features 45 Vestas V100 2MW turbines in the country’s central Coquimbo region, 400 kilometres north of Santiago.