Latin America

• Friday, November 22nd 2013 - 20:34 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil coordinating cyber-defense in the framework of Unasur

  

  Argentine Defense Minister Agustín Rossi met his Brazilian counterpart, Celso Amorim and agreed to incorporate all South American countries in their bilateral treaty on cyber-defense. The decision was made after several reports indicated the United States engaged in espionage activities against the countries in the region.

• Friday, November 22nd 2013 - 03:46 UTC

  “Argentina is on fire because of inflation” says leading businessman

  

  Fiat Argentina CEO Cristiano Rattazzi said that “Argentina is on fire because of inflation” and called on the newly appointed cabinet chief Jorge Capitanich and Economy minister Axel Kicillof “to work hard to bring inflation down”.

• Friday, November 22nd 2013 - 03:43 UTC

  'Quality service over profit', Aerolineas Argentinas target, said CEO Recalde

  

  Argentina's flag carrier Aerolíneas Argentinas CEO Mariano Recalde said that the company's goal, as requested by president Cristina Fernández, was to provide a quality service over profit.

• Friday, November 22nd 2013 - 02:02 UTC

  Morales orders double Christmas bonus for Bolivia's 300.000 public employees

  

  In what seems a partial contagion of what is happening in Venezuela, Bolivian President Evo Morales announced that he will double the Christmas bonus for Bolivia’s public employees which will be the equivalent of two months extra salary.

• Thursday, November 21st 2013 - 18:22 UTC

  Uruguay confirms a “several speeds” Mercosur in trade talks with European Union

  

  For Mercosur it is absolutely crucial that the trade and cooperation agreement with the European Union becomes effective said Uruguayan Vice-president Danilo Astori who indicated that Brazil and Uruguay are advancing the agreement at a faster speed than Argentina, which is involved in “a more protectionist focus”.

• Thursday, November 21st 2013 - 14:55 UTC

  Santos announces re-election bid, with the help from Farc and the peace process

  

  Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced he would seek a second term in office next May, a widely expected decision that could offer him another four years to pursue a peace process he initiated with Marxist FARC rebels.“I want a Colombia that is at peace and prosperous for all,” Santos said in an address to the nation.

• Thursday, November 21st 2013 - 07:06 UTC

  A first speech full of messages to reaffirm policies and calling on the opposition

  

  “God, how much I missed you”, were the first words from Argentine president Cristina Fernandez to her supporters, mostly young, who congregated on Wednesday late evening in the several patios of Casa Rosada to welcome her first live appearance since the 45-day long medical leave.

• Wednesday, November 20th 2013 - 21:15 UTC

  Abstention won Chile's Sunday election, but it's also a vote: rejecting the political system

  

  Chileans went to the polls Sunday and chose to send Michelle Bachelet and Evelyn Matthei to a runoff election with 46.7% and 25% of the vote respectively, but abstention far outstripped them both — less than half the number of voters on the electoral roll cast a vote.

• Wednesday, November 20th 2013 - 04:55 UTC

  Uruguay confirms third pulp mill project, but to the east of the country close to Brazil

  

  Finland's UPM/Botnia plant, which is an ongoing motive of dispute with Argentina is planning a second pulp mill but to the east of Uruguay, announced Vice-president Danilo Astori, confirming a previous statement from the First Lady and Senator Lucia Topolansky.

• Tuesday, November 19th 2013 - 08:55 UTC

  Kerry declares the Monroe Doctrine dead: “we are equals sharing responsibilities”

  

  US Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday declared that a nearly 200-year-old policy which had governed Washington's relations with Latin America was finally dead. Known as the Monroe Doctrine after it was adopted in 1823 by former US president James Monroe, the policy had stated that any efforts by European countries to colonize land in North or South America would be views as aggressive acts and could require US intervention.