Mercosur

Friday, July 8th 2016 - 09:35 UTC
Brazil's speaker of the Lower House resigns “to help stabilize the chamber”

Brazil suspended speaker of Brazil's lower house of Congress resigned from his post on Thursday, saying the move was aimed at bringing stability to that legislative chamber. Eduardo Cunha still retains his seat in the Chamber of Deputies, although he could lose it as part of an internal legislative process.
Friday, July 8th 2016 - 06:41 UTC
US and Argentina are “regional leaders and long time friends”, says Kerry

Secretary of State John Kerry sent best US wishes to the Argentine people on the 200 years of its declaration of independence on July 9, and underlined that both countries “are regional leaders and long time friends”.
Friday, July 8th 2016 - 04:56 UTC
Uruguayan government insists in transferring Mercosur presidency to Venezuela

Uruguay ratified on Thursday its willingness to transfer the Mercosur presidency to Venezuela despite objections from the other members, Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. In a brief statement in its official site, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Uruguay, currently holding the Mercosur pro tempore chair “reiterates its position to proceed to transfer the presidency, in abidance with what is established by the current Mercosur rules”.
Thursday, July 7th 2016 - 06:53 UTC
Rousseff makes impassionate defense against impeachment attempts in Congress

Brazil's suspended president Dilma Rousseff rejected attempts to impeach her as an “injustice” in a defense filing Wednesday, as a decision on her political fate moved a step closer. The affair has rocked Brazil as it struggles with a recession and corruption scandals ahead of next month's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Thursday, July 7th 2016 - 06:46 UTC
Cristina Fernandez back in court: Judge decides inhibition on her properties

Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez on Wednesday filed a complaint against the judge who recently opened an investigation into allegations she defrauded the state as part of her government's handling of the dollar futures market. Fernandez, who governed Argentina from 2007 to 2015, filed the complaint against judge Claudio Bonadio after appearing in his court in connection with the case.
Wednesday, July 6th 2016 - 06:54 UTC
Brazil asks Mercosur chair transfer to Venezuela to be delayed until August

The deep differences among Mercosur members as to who should hold the group's rotating chair this second half of the year surfaced openly in Montevideo with the surprise visit of Brazilian foreign minister Jose Serra and ex president Fernando Henrique Cardoso. The Brazilin delegation formally requested Uruguay, which currently holds the six/month Mercosur chair to suspend the transfer to Venezuela until at least August.
Wednesday, July 6th 2016 - 04:40 UTC
Macri pushes in Berlin for EU-Mercosur accord, but Merkel sides with France in the agriculture issue

President Mauricio Macri met on Tuesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin with both leaders holding a press conference to address the current state of talks regarding a trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur.
Thursday, June 30th 2016 - 13:22 UTC
Paraguay does not accept Venezuela as Mercosur pro tempore chair; group split in half

Mercosur is again split over Venezuela because Paraguay, and apparently Brazil, have not been consulted regarding the decision to hand the pro tempore presidency of the block to Venezuela in July, as was agreed in Montevideo by Uruguay and Argentina.
Thursday, June 30th 2016 - 06:40 UTC
Argentine economy grows 0.5% in first quarter: fishing and transport compensate fall in agriculture and construction

Argentina's economy grew 0.5% in the first quarter the government said on Wednesday, adding that it saw activity leveling out this year before accelerating in 2017. The year-on-year result, published by the newly revamped Indec statistics agency, followed analysts' forecasts for a 1.3% contraction for the January through March period.
Wednesday, June 29th 2016 - 11:22 UTC
“Welcome to Hell”, Rio police and firefighters tell arriving passengers

There was a nasty surprise awaiting passengers in the arrivals hall at Rio De Janeiro's Galeao International Airport on Monday. Along with the relatives carrying flowers and taxi drivers waiting with name boards there were lines of off-duty police with banners that had a far more ominous message: “Welcome to Hell”.