
Argentina's Senate on Thursday passed a bill aimed at circumventing U.S. court decisions regarding its defaulted debt by changing payment jurisdiction, sending the proposal to the lower house Chamber of Deputies for final approval. The chamber, like the Senate, is controlled by government allies who are expected to vote the bill into law.

NML Capital Ltd, a creditor suing Argentina in the U.S. courts for full payment on defaulted debt, subpoenaed 18 banks last week in an effort to track down 65 million dollars in what it says is embezzled Argentine money laundered through the United States.

Uruguay's main opposition candidate for October's contested presidential election was the victim of a Watergate break-in crime at the offices of the agency which is running his surprisingly successful campaign.

Recently released data shows that the Falkland Islands Gross Domestic Product (GDP) continues to be volatile: expanding considerably during some years and shrinking in others. For example, 2012, a year of intense hydrocarbons activity the per capita for a population of 2.562, in the books soared to £77.400.

With Brazil battling recession and inflation a month away from the presidential election, the Central bank kept its key interest rate on hold at 11%. Traders and analysts had forecast no change and the central bank's monetary policy commission (Copom) duly decided to leave all quiet following its monthly two-day meeting.

Bilateral trade between Mercosur leading partners Argentina and Brazil plummeted 27.6% in August and 22% in the last twelve months, according to Buenos Aires consultants, Abeceb. Recession in Brazil plus strict Argentine trade restrictions and slower domestic demand has contributed to the results.

The Mercosur Parliament, Parlasur will be holding a special session next 11 November in Montevideo dedicated to the Falklands/Malvinas Islands sovereignty issue, it was announced this Monday in Buenos Aires during a visit of a delegation from the regional legislative to the Argentine congress.

Mercosur is a success, intra-trade has expanded at double the rate of world trade and despite all the bad press, the block is advancing on other fields such as social affairs and citizenship, according to Ivan Ramalho, Mercosur's High Representative, who is a former Brazilian deputy minister of trade and development issues.

Argentine Economy minister Axel Kicillof left Buenos Aires on Thursday for Brazil, where he will meet with fellow ministers from the country to discuss the current situation of bilateral trade and the automotive industry.

Chile is ready to act as a 'bridge' between Mercosur and the Alliance of the Pacific so that Latin American can have a greater presence in the world state, said Chilean Deputy foreign minister Edgardo Riveros during a conference in Sao Paulo at the Lula da Silva think-tank.