Mercosur

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 07:51 UTC

  Argentina denies any ‘war hypothesis’ with Uruguay over controversial pulp mill

  

  Argentine officials reacted strongly to remarks from former Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez who revealed that during the prolonged diplomatic conflict with Argentina over the construction of the Botnia-UPM pulp plant, he feared the situation could have led to an armed confrontation.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 07:50 UTC

  Colombian president praises US congress for ratifying free trade agreement

  

  President Juan Manuel Santos praised US Congress ratification of a long-stalled free trade agreement with the United States and said it was a historic day for Colombian business and workers.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 06:00 UTC

  US Congress approves free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and S Korea

  

  The United States Congress voted Wednesday on a bipartisan basis to pass long delayed free-trade bills with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 05:56 UTC

  Argentina calls on Mercosur to promote inter-trade and cut out of region imports

  

  Argentina called on Latin America to promote inter-trade among the region’s countries replacing the almost 460 billion dollars of manufactured goods from the rest of the world imported in 2010.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 05:54 UTC

  Massive demonstration in Brasilia against corruption and impunity

  

  Over 200.000 people took to the streets of the Brazilian capital to protest against corruption and impunity. The Wednesday rally was convened through the social networks and responds to citizens’ organizations with no political affiliation.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 05:43 UTC

  Massive car crash in Chile involves 51 vehicles kills 5 and injures over 50

  

  In Chile a massive car crash involving 23 trucks, 17 smaller vehicles and 11 buses left at least five dead and many others injured Wednesday morning, local authorities report. The accident occurred just past 7 a.m. at the turnoff for Algarrobo on the eastbound side of Route 68, which connects coastal Valparaíso to Santiago.

• Thursday, October 13th 2011 - 05:40 UTC

  Chile ranks last for income and education in OECD report

  

  Chile was ranked last for income, education and the quality of environment, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or OECD report on well-being released Oct. 12.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 21:25 UTC

  Argentine president improving from hypotension bout resumes activities Thursday

  

  President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner showed “improvement” after suffering from a bout of hypotension Tuesday and will resume presidential activities as of Thursday, said doctors from the Government House.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 06:27 UTC

  S&P and Fitch downgrade main Spanish banks ratings on “dimmed” prospects

  

  Spanish banks including Banco Santander SA and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA had their ratings cut by Standard & Poor’s, which cited “dimming” growth prospects and “heightened” market turbulence.

• Wednesday, October 12th 2011 - 06:00 UTC

  Colombia supports Palestinian state, but insists negotiations with Israel are crucial

  

  Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas left Colombia empty-handed Tuesday after failing to secure support from President Juan Manuel Santos for his bid to gain state recognition at the United Nations.