Mercosur

• Thursday, November 15th 2012 - 02:08 UTC

  Uruguayan populist president Jose Mujica, as described by BBC

  

  It's a common grumble that politicians' lifestyles are far removed from those of their electorate. Not so in Uruguay. Meet the president - who lives on a ramshackle farm and gives away most of his pay.

• Tuesday, November 13th 2012 - 20:51 UTC

  Latam rapidly turning into middle class continent, says World Bank

  

  A World Bank report released Tuesday found that Latin America and the Caribbean registered a 50% jump in the number of people joining the middle class during the last decade, which was called by economists an historic achievement for a region long exposed to wealth inequality.

• Tuesday, November 13th 2012 - 03:35 UTC

  Despite Unasur, Colombia and Chile ambassadors are back in Paraguay

  

  Colombia and Chile ambassadors returned to Paraguay on Sunday after six months absence, the first two members from Unasur in doing so and in practical terms breaking the isolation imposed on the landlocked country following the political crisis which removed Fernando Lugo and had him replaced by current president Federico Franco.

• Monday, November 12th 2012 - 21:57 UTC

  Ban Ki-moon and colonialism: people should be able to decide their own future

  

  Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said UK is not violating relevant UN resolutions referred to the Falklands’ and more specifically on colonialism, he argued that a prevailing impression is that “people living under certain conditions should have a certain level of capacities so that they can decide their own future”, be it independence or some kind of government in their territories.

• Saturday, November 10th 2012 - 06:08 UTC

  Colombia breaks isolation ring imposed on Paraguay by Unasur

  

  Colombia confirmed on Friday that its ambassador in Paraguay, Alberto Barrantes had returned to Asunción, four months after the political crisis triggered by the removal from office of Fernando Lugo and his replacement by President Federico Franco

• Friday, November 9th 2012 - 06:41 UTC

  Chilean ambassador return to Paraguay ‘when electoral process begins’

  

  Chilean Foreign minister Alfredo Moreno said on Thursday it had not been decided when Chile’s ambassador to Paraguay, Christian Maquieira would be returning to Asuncion and pointed out that the diplomat continues “in consultations” with Santiago, following the removal of former president Fernando Lugo.

• Thursday, November 8th 2012 - 07:23 UTC

  Former Uruguayan presidents disenchanted with Mercosur but divided on the path to follow

  

  Four former elected Uruguayan presidents openly discussed Mercosur revealing an overall disenchantment with the regional political and trade group but with different emphasis as to what was the path to follow.

• Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 22:06 UTC

  Return of Colombia ambassador, expected to break Unasur exclusion of Paraguay

  

  Colombian ambassador Jorge Barrantes will be returning to his post in Asunción this weekend, the first Unasur country member to do so, according to Paraguayan Foreign minister Jose Fernandez Estigarribia. Chile is also expected to adopt a similar decision in the near future.

• Tuesday, November 6th 2012 - 18:22 UTC

  Uruguay confirms in Argentina incentives for arriving tourists this summer season

  

  The Uruguayan government confirmed on Monday a raft of measures to attract Argentine tourists and compensate the restrictions in Argentina to purchase foreign currency (dollar-clamp) and the 15% retention fund for credit or debit cards operations outside the country.

• Tuesday, November 6th 2012 - 07:04 UTC

  Mercosur ‘denying Paraguay its legitimate right to the pro-tempore chair”

  

  Mercosur is denying Paraguay its legitimate right to the pro-tempore chair of Mercosur next 7 December at the presidential summit in Brasilia when Uruguay will receive the relay from Brazil. On that same occasion Venezuela will be attending the meeting as full member for the first time, reports the Asuncion media.