Latin America

Monday, August 19th 2013 - 13:23 UTC
Mercosur ‘remains a fiction’ admits Uruguayan foreign minister

Mercosur as an only market ‘remains a fiction’ since it is missing the effective implementation and ironing out of trade and macroeconomic reforms, said Uruguayan foreign minister Luis Almagro, who went on to promote “double and triple membership” for Mercosur members.
Monday, August 19th 2013 - 13:12 UTC
Uruguay calls on Mercosur to sign a free trade agreement with United States

Uruguayan Vice-President Danilo Astori said Mercosur must decisively address the signing of a free trade agreement with the United States, but also admits that “opportunities must be built”.
Friday, August 16th 2013 - 18:00 UTC
Canadian bank abandons Uruguay following raid on its office on request from Argentine judge

The Royal Bank of Canada, RBC, is abandoning Uruguay following a raid in its offices at Zonamerica ordered by a Uruguayan magistrate on request from Argentina during which computers, documents on clients and even cell phones from staff were seized by the intervening party which included on-watching Argentine treasury police.
Friday, August 16th 2013 - 17:46 UTC
Ecuador ‘forced’ to drill for oil in pristine Amazon rainforest; ‘rich countries have failed us’

Ecuador has abandoned a conservation plan that would have paid the country not to drill for oil in previously untouched parts of Yasuni National Park in the Amazon rainforest. President Rafael Correa said rich nations had failed to back the initiative, leaving Ecuador with no choice but go ahead with drilling.
Friday, August 16th 2013 - 03:27 UTC
South American defense ministers meet to improve monitoring of Amazon region

South American defense ministers gathered in the northern Brazilian city of Manaus on Thursday to discuss how to improve monitoring of the huge Amazon region. Attending the seminar which runs through Friday are Brazil's Celso Amorim, Colombia's Juan Carlos Pinzón and Ecuador's María Fernanda Espinosa.
Friday, August 16th 2013 - 02:57 UTC
Paraguay new president pledges ‘war on poverty’ and improved relations with neighbours

Conservative businessman Horacio Cartes was sworn in as president of Paraguay on Thursday, amid slowly improving relations with South American neighbors, and Mercosur members, damaged by the 2012 removal of populist President Fernando Lugo, who was impeached on incompetence.
Thursday, August 15th 2013 - 03:51 UTC
Mercosur controversy, Cartes main challenge when he takes office on Thursday

Most presidents and top authorities that will attend the inauguration of Paraguayan president-elect Horacio Cartes on Thursday morning arrived in Asunción on Wednesday and most of them have already held private meetings with the future leader of the country.
Thursday, August 15th 2013 - 03:45 UTC
With defiant fury Cristina Fernandez launched the campaign for October election

In an extremely aggressive speech in the aftermath of primaries defeat, Argentine president Cristina Fernandez blasted the media for misinterpreting electoral results, charged against the Mayor of Tigre Sergio Massa who was the big winner on Sunday, pressed for full commitment from her allies and promised more of the same in support of the ‘socially inclusive model’.
Thursday, August 15th 2013 - 03:37 UTC
Argentina July inflation 2.55% and 24.9% in twelve months, says congressional index

Argentina’s inflation according to the ‘congressional index’ reached 2.55% in July and 24.9% in the last twelve months was announced on Wednesday by members from the opposition in the Lower House.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 19:36 UTC
After inflation hits 42%, Maduro names a more pragmatic president to the Central bank

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro appointed the third central bank president this year as Latin America’s biggest oil exporter seeks to rein in the fastest inflation among the world’s major economies.