Latin America

• Thursday, August 4th 2016 - 21:52 UTC

  Venezuela defies Mercosur members and announces it will “fully exercise the presidency”

  

  Venezuela has defiantly confirmed that is will fully exercise the “self-proclaimed” presidency of Mercosur, despite the opposition from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, who consider the chair vacant and are meeting in Montevideo to find an alternative for the six month mandate.

• Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 07:12 UTC

  US 'Dream team' rented cruise liner “Silver Cloud” as their Olympic Village

  

  Multi-millionaire members of the US Olympic basketball team have rented a massive luxury cruise ship to call their home while they compete at the Rio Olympics. Super rich members of the 'Dream Team' are shirking the nightmare of the Olympic Village, still undergoing finishing touches in some areas and likely to remain “under construction” throughout the games in others. Members of the women's team are also reported to be calling the cruise ship home.

• Wednesday, August 3rd 2016 - 06:58 UTC

  Rio Games opening tailored to the current economic conditions in Brazil

  

  Rio de Janeiro Olympics opening ceremony on Friday will break with the recent tradition of large-scale and expensive shows, featuring a low-emissions cauldron and an “analogue” experience, executive producer Marco Balich said.

• Monday, August 1st 2016 - 12:58 UTC

  Argentina and Mexico pledge to reach “absolute integration and free trade”

  

  Argentina and Mexico agree on the need to reach absolute integration and free trade, as part of the closer bilateral relations confirmed with the visit to Buenos Aires of Mexican head of state Enrique Peña Nieto.

• Saturday, July 30th 2016 - 07:47 UTC

  Olympics chief praises Rio and anticipates a “fantastic” Games

  

  The head of the International Olympic Committee played down problems with unfinished accommodation in Rio de Janeiro that have prompted some teams to abandon the Olympic village, saying he expected Brazil to host a “fantastic” games.

• Saturday, July 30th 2016 - 05:39 UTC

  Mercosur limbo: Uruguay's presidency is over, who will hold the rotating chair ?

  

  Uruguay made public on Friday a letter sent to Mercosur fellow full members stating the finalization, this Saturday 30 July, of its six-month presidency of the group, which means the rotating chair “should be transferred to Venezuela”. The letter was accompanied by a 32 page report of its six-month as chair of the group, particularly intense because of the trade negotiations with the European Union.

• Saturday, July 30th 2016 - 04:22 UTC

  Mercosur controversy: Brazil does not oppose Venezuela, but Caracas must first comply with agreed set of rules

  

  Brazilian interim president Michel Temer laid out the steps Venezuela must comply with before it is confirmed as full member of Mercosur, and following on that can effectively become chair of the group. Temer's Friday statement makes clear Brazil's position in the ongoing controversy regarding Venezuela's aspiration to succeed Uruguay in the rotating chair.

• Friday, July 29th 2016 - 13:40 UTC

  Kuczynski pledges to modernize Peru and a “social revolution” to fight poverty, racism and corruption

  

  Pedro Pablo Kuczynski took office as Peru's president on Thursday, asking the opposition-controlled Congress to help him fight income inequality and ensure all Peruvians have access to running water, health care and free primary education.

• Thursday, July 28th 2016 - 06:35 UTC

  “Gringo” president with pro-business cabinet and limited congressional support takes office in Peru

  

  Pedro Pablo Kuczynski takes office as Peru's presidency this Thursday with a Cabinet that shares his Ivy League, pro-business pedigree — a reliance on technocrats that could become a liability as he deals with an unfriendly congress, a resurgent left and environment aware peasants and indigenous peoples living on rich natural resources.

• Tuesday, July 26th 2016 - 21:38 UTC

  Olympics Brazilian security personnel have been trained by Israel Special Forces

  

  Next month's summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will take place under watchful eyes of 10,000 Brazilian soldiers and police officers and all have been highly trained for the job by Israelis, according to a report on the Israel NonStop website, based on details broadcast by Israeli Channel 2 television news reporter Nir Dvori.