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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, February 14th 2026 - 02:04 UTC

Latin America

  • Tuesday, December 17th 2013 - 02:28 UTC

    Uruguayan economy on track to 4.1% growth this year and in 2014

    Construction was down because of the completion of two major investments

    The Uruguayan economy contracted 0.7% in the third quarter compared to the previous quarter, although it jumped 3.3% over the same period a year ago, according to the latest release from the Central bank in Montevideo. During the second quarter, the expansion had reached 2.4%, and 1.5% previous to that.

  • Tuesday, December 17th 2013 - 02:18 UTC

    US insists Obama remains open to a state visit from Brazil's Dilma Rousseff

    Ambassador Ayalade trying to rebuild relations with Brasilia

    The new US ambassador in Brazil Liliana Ayalde said President Barack Obama is prepared to receive his Brazilian peer Dilma Rousseff. The statement comes weeks after a state visit planned for last October was suspended by Dilma in protest over revelations of extensive US spying of Brazilian communications including the mobiles of the Brazilian leader.

  • Monday, December 16th 2013 - 11:02 UTC

    Bachelet sweeps in but as in the first round abstention prevailed

    The president-elect celebrates but on Sunday 5.7 million ballots were cast out of over 12 million

    Michelle Bachelet is set to resume her former position as president of Chile in March 2014 after a resounding second round victory against her opponent and former childhood playmate, Evelyn Matthei. In an acceptance speech late Sunday night the president-elect touched on two key platforms of her campaign: free higher education and a new constitution.

  • Monday, December 16th 2013 - 10:37 UTC

    Chile/Peru maritime dispute: International Court of Justice verdict January 27

    The disputed area claimed by Peru

    As the International Court of Justice is set to release its final verdict in January, Peru announces plans to build a new settlement less than a mile from the Chilean border. After years of tribulation, an end is finally in sight for a maritime dispute between Chile and Peru, with The Hague to announce its verdict on the case Jan. 27.

  • Monday, December 16th 2013 - 01:46 UTC

    Bachelet wins presidential election in Chile

    Presidential candidate and former President Michelle Bachelet gives the thumbs up sign during a victory rally in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013.

    Socialist Michelle Bachelet, who was Chile's president from 2006 to 2010, cruised to victory in Sunday's presidential runoff.

  • Saturday, December 14th 2013 - 06:58 UTC

    Pot fumes: Mujica calls UN official, 'liar', after he accused Uruguay of 'pirate attitudes'

    The Uruguayan president challenged Yans to stop 'saying lies' and meet him in Uruguay

    President Jose Mujica reacted furiously to the accusation of Uruguay as a 'pirate state' from the UN official in charge of drugs' control, who was protesting the legalization of marihuana and because allegedly he was never received by the Uruguayan leader. Mujica bluntly replied, leaving aside all nice talk, “tell that old man to stop lying and stop showing off to the stands”.

  • Saturday, December 14th 2013 - 06:40 UTC

    A Nobel peace prize for Uruguay for legalizing cannabis

    Mujica's courage should not be underrated

    Uruguay's recent passing of a bill legalizing cannabis from production to distribution has generated headlines and controversy worldwide. The basics of the law is that current methods to combat drugs addiction and trade have failed completely and new options should be experimented.
    The Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins writes on the controversy.

  • Saturday, December 14th 2013 - 06:04 UTC

    Argentina: compensation to security forces that helped contain police protests and looting

    In many provinces state workers are demanding similar wage hikes to those granted to the police

    Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich confirmed on Friday that President Cristina Fernández will announce next week an “economic and financial recognition” to the members of national security forces following the deployment of 12,000 agents across the country to counter the impacts of the police protests and lootings that hit almost all Argentine provinces over the past days.

  • Friday, December 13th 2013 - 18:10 UTC

    Venezuela clashes with World Bank over oil deal with Haiti

    “Our cooperation with Haiti is based on solidarity values and the respect of its sovereignty”, said Venezuelan ambassador Canino González

    Venezuela has dismissed as “disrespectful” comments made by a senior World Bank official that Haiti was not transparent in its handling of funds provided under the Caracas-led PetroCaribe.

  • Friday, December 13th 2013 - 12:13 UTC

    'Abstention' the main challenge for Chilean presidency election run-off on Sunday

    Bachelet or Matthei, but with how much support?

    Chileans are set to head to the polls this Sunday to choose their next president, but experts fear much more than half the electorate will opt not for Michelle Bachelet or Evelyn Matthei, but to stay at home on election day instead. The election’s first round, held Nov. 17, saw the debut of the voluntary voting system in Chilean presidential elections and a turnout of 6.7 million, half-a-million-votes less than were counted in 2010, when voting was still mandatory for those on the electoral role.