Mercosur

Saturday, May 25th 2013 - 04:29 UTC
Paraguay becomes observer of the Alliance of the Pacific, despite Brazil and Mercosur

The Alliance of the Pacific announced this week that Paraguay had been accepted as an observer of the regional group. Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos chair and host of the alliance summit in Cali made it official during the reading of the final declaration.
Friday, May 24th 2013 - 07:45 UTC
Toilet paper shortage is because ‘Venezuelans are eating more’ argues the government

A few hours after the Venezuelan congress voted a 79 million dollars credit for the import of 39 million rolls of toilet paper and other personal hygiene items, the government of President Nicolas Maduro said this was because “Venezuelans are eating more”.
Thursday, May 23rd 2013 - 07:01 UTC
Cristina Fernandez administration limits overseas dollar extractions to a minimum

Continuing with the so called ‘dollar clamp’ Argentine institutions issuing credit cards will further limit the extraction of dollars from automatic cashiers: travellers to neighbouring countries will only be allowed 100 dollars every three months and those visiting non neighbouring countries, 800 dollars per month.
Wednesday, May 22nd 2013 - 05:56 UTC
Uruguay joins the women’s presidential club: Mujica flies to China and Astori to Colombia

For several days beginning Wednesday Uruguay, as its neighbours, Brazil and Argentina will be ruled by a woman. Lucia Topolansky, Fist Lady but also Senator and third in the succession line will become interim president since her husband is off on an official trip to China and Europe, and Vice-president Danilo Astori will be attending the Alliance of the Pacific summit in Colombia.
Monday, May 20th 2013 - 19:47 UTC
Brazil trapped by Argentina and Venezuela economic mismanagements

Brazil’s main financial newspaper Valor Economico revealed that the recent summit between Presidents Cristina Fernandez and Dilma Rousseff from Argentina and Brazil was far from polite and enlightening, rather the contrary with “strong disagreements in the fields of trade and investment” shaking the foundations of Mercosur.
Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 06:57 UTC
Maduro admits to knowing “the IDs and all” of the 900.000 Chavistas who did not vote for him

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro admitted to knowing ‘with IDs and all’ who are the 900.000 Chavistas who crossed lines and did not vote for him in the 14 April election which anointed him as the successor of deceased Hugo Chavez.
Friday, May 17th 2013 - 06:26 UTC
Uruguay’s José Mujica lauds booming Brazil ties

By Jude Webber in Montevideo - The Financial Times has published a piece on Uruguayan president Jose Mujica and his view on the future and his government’s policy towards two powerful neighbors, Argentina and Brazil.
Wednesday, May 15th 2013 - 21:59 UTC
Paraguay on Independence Day blasts Argentina and Brazil over “power resource exploitation”

President Federico Franco said Paraguay has long cancelled its debts for the construction of two huge shared hydroelectric dams with its powerful neighbours and demanded Argentina pay for the surplus energy it receives and compensation for flooding Paraguayan territory.
Tuesday, May 14th 2013 - 06:58 UTC
Under Brazilian suggestion, Maduro says he is prepared for political dialogue with Capriles

Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro said he is prepared for political dialogue with the leader of the opposition Henrique Capriles to ensure peace in the country, even if it means “talking to the devil”. He also warned that United States must “give a huge leap forward” if relations as equals are to be advanced between Caracas and Washington.
Monday, May 13th 2013 - 04:21 UTC
Maduro trying to deal with his main challenges: food scarcity and inflation

President Nicolas Maduro accused Lorenzo Mendoza, owner of Empresas Polar SA, Venezuela’s largest privately held company, of reducing food production and creating shortages amid record scarcity and the region’s fastest inflation close to 30%.