Mercosur

• Monday, July 11th 2016 - 07:44 UTC

  Buenos Aires port planning ambitious new terminal to recover cruise industry business

  

  The port of Buenos Aires is planning a new terminal for the cruise industry with the purpose or recovering lost business estimated at 50% compared to the peak reached in the 2012/2013 season. Likewise for this coming season there will be a drastic reduction in landing and provision costs for cruise companies operating from Buenos Aires.

• Monday, July 11th 2016 - 06:16 UTC

  Pope Francis appeals to “a greater Fatherland” in message to Argentina's independence bicentennial

  

  In anticipation of Argentina's Independence Day bicentenary on Saturday,( 9 July 1816), Pope Francis sent a special message calling for the homeland to fulfill the prophesy of Joel (1st chapter. 4th verse) — only if our grandparents dare to dream and our youths to prophesy great things can our homeland be free.

• Monday, July 11th 2016 - 06:07 UTC

  Brazilian army take to the streets in a display of force in anticipation of the Olympic Games

  

  Brazilian soldiers were on the streets last Saturday, checking out spots around the city that will get intense security when the Rio de Janeiro Olympics open in under four weeks. Armored vehicles and trucks carrying troops were accompanied by soldiers decked out in camouflage gear and matching helmets, with rifles slung over their shoulders. The soldiers covered the city, from Copacabana Beach to the central train station and the renovated port area.

• Monday, July 11th 2016 - 05:08 UTC

  Meirelles budget lower deficit objective prevails in the Temer administration

  

  Brazil set a smaller 2017 primary deficit target than initially envisioned, in an attempt to show greater austerity after an increase in spending raised doubts about the government's fiscal discipline. The central government primary deficit target was set at 139 billion Reais (US$41.32 billion) for 2017, a figure well below the 160 billion Reais it initially considered.

• Monday, July 11th 2016 - 05:04 UTC

  Brazil's six-month inflation remains above same period last year and central bank target

  

  Inflation in Brazil fell in June by 0.35% to an annual rate of 8.84%, but remains almost double the government target, official figures showed. This was an improvement from May, when inflation hit 9.32%, temporarily reversing a three-month falling trend.

• Friday, July 8th 2016 - 09:47 UTC

  Macri extends business tour to Idaho for a techno conference presided by Bill Gates

  

  Following his business promoting visit to France, Belgium and Germany, Argentine president Mauricio Macri is attending the Sun Valley Conference in the city of Idaho, United States, which is presided over by Microsoft creator Bill Gates.

• 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.