Latin America

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 16:14 UTC

  Mujica proposes to blend Mercosur and Unasur into an only `more flexible group

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica proposed to its South American peers to blend Mercosur and Unasur into an only group, according to an interview with a Uruguayan weekly in which he also ratified his commitment with Venezuela (and its oil resources) to justify the incorporation of the fifth full member of Mercosur.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 15:38 UTC

  EU prepared for talks with an expanded Mercosur that includes Venezuela

  

  The European Commission has said it will continue negotiations on an association agreement with Mercosur even if Venezuela finally becomes a full member of the group and will address the issue on a “region to region” basis.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 07:32 UTC

  Mexican president elect Peña Nieto wants a strategic alliance with Brazil

  

  Mexican president-elect Enrique Peña Nieto said in an interview that his administration will step up efforts in South America to repair the country’s image, including seeking a strategic alliance with Brazil.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 07:28 UTC

  Chavez promotes 147 Bolivarian officers including the first woman admiral

  

  Venezuelan head of state Hugo Chavez presided over the ceremony in which 147 Bolivarian National Armed Forces, FANB, officers were promoted to the ranks of general and admiral, including the first woman to hold the highest naval rank.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 07:23 UTC

  Peruvian mining conflict with locals in the Andes region remains stalled

  

  A peasant wounded earlier this week during protests against a massive mining project in north western Peru died Thursday, bringing the death toll from the riots to five. Following the clashes with police forces the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency in the area.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 07:11 UTC

  Mexico follows on Argentina and withdraws from zero-tariff accord for auto industry

  

  Mexico has withdrawn a zero-tariff agreement with Argentina on autos in a tit-for-tat trade dispute after the Argentine government's decision to pull out of an auto trade pact between the two countries.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 06:39 UTC

  Uruguay’s flag carrier Pluna “indefinitely grounded” and most staff redundant

  

  Uruguay’s flagship carrier Pluna said on Thursday that is was “suspending all flights indefinitely” and announced that 720 of the 900 staff would be sent on unemployment pay until a new associate for the company is found or the airline is definitively sold.

• Thursday, July 5th 2012 - 08:21 UTC

  Paraguay formally accuses Venezuela of interference and orders ambassador home

  

  Paraguay's new government ordered home its ambassador in Venezuela after accusing President Hugo Chávez government of meddling in an attempt to avert the impeachment of the Paraguayan president last month.

• Thursday, July 5th 2012 - 08:06 UTC

  Paraguay's Destructive Soy Boom

  

  By Jeremy Hobbs - The following column was published in The New York Times Opinion page.
  It gives another side of the current situation in Paraguay, and the role the landlocked country plays as a leading exporter of the oilseed.

• Wednesday, July 4th 2012 - 22:30 UTC

  Mexican election vote recount confirms winner Peña Nieto several points over runner-up

  

  Mexico's election officials on Wednesday recounted votes from more than half the polling booths in Sunday's presidential and congressional elections, responding to claims of fraud and requests for recounts in areas where the race was tight