Latin America

• Monday, August 6th 2012 - 08:23 UTC

  Mercosur economic performance expected to lag behind Andean countries in 2012

  

  Argentina and Brazil will experience an economic slowdown this year compared to 2011, while Paraguay, punished by drought and an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, will have the worst performance in Latin America, and Peru the best, according to the Argentine consultants Ecolatina

• Monday, August 6th 2012 - 08:20 UTC

  Venezuela will abandon the Inter American justice system because it is “awful and rotten”

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez reiterated that organisms such as the “awful, rotten and degenerate” Human Rights Inter American Court (CIDH) and the Inter American Court should disappear since they are “not worthy of the new world” ratifying his country will pull out from the two.

• Monday, August 6th 2012 - 08:14 UTC

  Lugo going to appeal before the Inter American Court his removal from office

  

  Fernando Lugo said he would appeal to the Inter American Court the whole political impeachment process in the Senate that ended with his removal from the Paraguayan presidency in less than 48 hours and with little chance of a defence.

• Monday, August 6th 2012 - 07:56 UTC

  Ecuador negotiation to join Mercosur as full member begin next month

  

  Mercosur will officially begin negotiation with Mercosur for its inclusion as full member in September announced the Brazilian news agency, ABR on Sunday. The meeting is scheduled for September 15 when the incorporation preliminaries will be addressed.

• Monday, August 6th 2012 - 07:54 UTC

  Venezuela will help YPF explore for hydrocarbons in fields next to the Falklands

  

  Venezuela’s government oil corporation, PDVSA, in considering with Argentina’s YPF exploring for oil and gas in the area next to Falkland/Malvinas waters, revealed the president of the corporation and Minister of Petroleum and Mining.

• Monday, August 6th 2012 - 07:40 UTC

  Chile’s discredited Piñera revamps tax reform bill ahead of municipal elections

  

  Chile's government re-drafted a sweeping tax reform bill aimed at helping fund an education overhaul, removing criticized benefits for higher earners as it seeks to help its passage through Congress ahead of key local elections.

• Monday, August 6th 2012 - 07:34 UTC

  Sean Penn joins Venezuela’s Chavez presidential electoral campaign wagon

  

  Actor Sean Penn joined President Hugo Chavez at an election rally in Venezuela on Sunday, bringing a dash of Hollywood to the campaign as he rode with him atop a truck past cheering supporters.

• Monday, August 6th 2012 - 07:21 UTC

  Slowdown in Latin America further exposed vulnerabilities of Spain and Portugal

  

  The slowdown in Latin America’s once booming economies could take a heavy toll on profits for Spanish and Portuguese companies whose two-decade investment spree abroad has provided a lifeline during a deepening crisis at home.

• Saturday, August 4th 2012 - 22:29 UTC

  Chile expects a 30% increase in cruise vessel calls this 2012/13 season

  

  Chile is expecting an increase of 30% in the number of cruise vessels calls this coming season with Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas receiving the most, said the country’s Under Secretary for Tourism Jacqueline Plass.

• Saturday, August 4th 2012 - 03:14 UTC

  Venezuela accession to Mercosur “by the back door”, according to The Economist

  

  Under the heading of “In by the back door” referred to the expansion of Mercosur, The Economist says “bringing Venezuela certainly was smart, in the sense of cunning rather than wise”, but it was done ignoring the block’s rules which call for unanimity in admitting new members.