
Argentine opposition lawmakers expressed concern about alleged logistic support from Brazil and Chile to British warships and other auxiliary vessels in the South Atlantic and demanded the government of president Cristina Fernández report to Congress on the matter.

Argentine amateur distance swimmer Agustin Barletti (53) swam across Falklands Sound on November 9 in 2 hours and 7 minutes. The Argentine, who has also swum the Strait of Gibraltar between Europe and Africa hit it lucky with calm weather and the swell only increasing as he finished.

European Union and Mercosur representatives analyzed the current state of negotiations for an association and free trade agreement but could not establish a date for the exchange of new proposals because the European Commission has yet not concluded the consultation process with member states to harmonize its proposal.

Uruguay’s Foreign Minister Luis Almagro highlighted that Mercosur is the “main buyer” of Uruguayan exports and strongly defended the country's presence in the regional group, a controversial issue since much of the country's political system and most of the business community want a more dynamic, open trade block.

Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance explored this week in Chile the possibilities of a gradual, and flexible, integration but left aside all possibility of a near future agreement on tariffs.

The Pacific Alliance (PA) and the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) combined represent more than 80% of regional foreign trade as well as population, and more than 90% of GDP and direct foreign investment flows, according to a new report by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Brazil must speed international trade agreement negotiations, said cabinet chief Aloizo Mercadante, in direct reference to Mercosur and demanding an end to internal disputes.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez left Thursday evening for El Calafate, Santa Cruz province, to spend the long weekend with her family, presidential spokesman Alfredo Scoccimarro reported.

A former Brazilian Development minister and currently member of the board of BRF, one of the world's leading food corporations, Luiz Fernando Furlan said Brazil is far away from world trade agreements and urgently needs to review policies in this area, including participation in Mercosur.

Bolivia trusts that at the coming Mercosur summit in Argentina it can advance in solving the technical-legal difficulties that are delaying the country's full membership of the trade and political group. Allegedly one of the main differences rests in neighboring Paraguay and how it would accept Bolivia's incorporation.