Latin America

• Friday, August 15th 2014 - 02:15 UTC

  Unasur Montevideo summit planned for next week, suspended until October

  

  A planned presidential summit between the heads of state of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) has been suspended due to scheduling conflicts amongst member countries, according to the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry.

• Wednesday, August 13th 2014 - 09:30 UTC

  Petrobras sells natural gas pipeline operations in Bolivia

  

  Brazil's Petrobras sold its stake in a Bolivian natural gas pipeline operator, continuing a string of asset sales aimed at generating cash for development of offshore oil fields at home. The Brazilian giant said it sold its 44.5% stake in Transierra to Bolivian state-owned YPFB for 106.7 million dollars.

• Wednesday, August 13th 2014 - 07:09 UTC

  Brazil admits EU/Mercosur deal stalled because of European concerns about agriculture

  

  Brazil's agricultural competitiveness is a concern to countries and trade blocks negotiating agreements with Brazil, according to ambassador Paulo Estivallet de Mesquita, head of the Economics Department of the country's Ministry of Foreign Relations (MRE).

• Wednesday, August 13th 2014 - 05:34 UTC

  Earthquake strikes Quito kills two and violently shakes buildings

  

  A shallow 5.1-magnitude earthquake has struck the Ecuadorian capital Quito, triggering landslides that killed at least two people and violently shaking buildings and homes. Another eight people were injured and three others trapped in the landslides at quarries on the outskirts of Quito, the country's risk management agency said on Twitter.

• Wednesday, August 13th 2014 - 05:28 UTC

  Finally Cristina Fernandez is on an official visit to Paraguay

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez arrived Tuesday evening to Paraguay to begin early Wednesday an official visit which has been delayed several times. Besides the usual agenda discussions and accords signing with her peer Horacio Cartes, the visit will also have a strong symbolism since the Argentine president will be formally returning to Paraguay furniture and other belongings from one of the country's most revered leaders, Francisco Solano Lopez.

• Wednesday, August 13th 2014 - 01:22 UTC

  FARC leader doubts the peace accord can be signed this year

  

  Colombia is unlikely to sign a peace accord with Marxist rebels this year as the remaining items on the negotiating agenda are complex and time consuming, FARC guerrilla leader Rodrigo Londoño said.

• Tuesday, August 12th 2014 - 06:05 UTC

  Mexico signs energy reform bills: now to wait for interested private companies

  

  Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto signed on Monday a package of landmark energy reform bills, ending the 76-year-old state monopoly on oil drilling and reopening the sector to foreign companies.

• Monday, August 11th 2014 - 22:30 UTC

  Quito, leading destination of South America, at World Travel Awards

  

  Ecuador's capital, Quito, was named “South America's Leading Destination” for the second year in a row at the 21st regional World Travel Awards gala, considered the Oscars of the tourism industry.

• Saturday, August 9th 2014 - 05:58 UTC

  OAS observation mission will be present during Bolivia's October elections

  

  The Organization of American States (OAS) and Bolivia signed on Friday the agreement on privileges and immunities for the Electoral Observation Mission, (EOM) to be deployed to the general elections to be held in Bolivia on 12 October.

• Friday, August 8th 2014 - 07:59 UTC

  Brazil insists in trade agreements and closer ties with Pacific Alliance, despite Mercosur

  

  Brazil confirmed that it will try to bring forward to 2016 the free trade agreement with Chile, Peru and Colombia, scheduled for 2019 and underlined the need for Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance to converge as part of the region's productive integration process.