Politics

Tuesday, February 18th 2014 - 05:13 UTC
OAS expresses concern about Tuesday's protests in Venezuela, calls for dialogue

The Organization of American States (OAS), expressed concern on Monday over the possibility that new protests in the streets of the capital of Venezuela “could lead to more acts of violence that would only further separate the positions of the government and the opposition and polarize to an even greater degree the sensitive political moment the South American country is going through.”
Monday, February 17th 2014 - 10:00 UTC
Uruguay will appeal to a cut in state-run utilities rates, if necessary, to keep inflation under control

Uruguayan President Jose Mujica admitted that annual inflation would likely remain between 7 and 9% for the rest of his administration, above the government's target maximum, but he will appeal to a cut in state-run utilities rates if necessary to keep the index under control.
Monday, February 17th 2014 - 09:54 UTC
Mercosur condemns violence in Venezuela and calls for dialogue

Mercosur country members, in an official release rejected all acts of violence and condemned the destabilization attempts against the government of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.
Monday, February 17th 2014 - 09:42 UTC
Uruguay and Venezuela will further increase energy related cooperation

Uruguay will renew the contract for the purchase of Venezuela oil and accept the stake increase of that country in a local bio-fuels corporation during the scheduled visit of President Nicolas Maduro to Montevideo next month; it was announced by the Uruguayan Foreign affairs ministry.
Monday, February 17th 2014 - 09:27 UTC
Italy expected to have a new centre-left government with maverick mayor Renzi

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano summoned Matteo Renzi to a meeting on Monday at which he is expected to ask the centre-left leader to form a government that must overhaul one of the most troubled economies in the Euro zone.
Monday, February 17th 2014 - 09:23 UTC
Euro-zone growth still fragile but stronger than expected at the end of 2013

Economic growth across the Euro-zone was stronger than expected at the end of 2013, according to official figures, raising hopes the recovery is gaining a foothold. Gross domestic product grew by 0.3% in the October-December period from the previous quarter, said Eurostat, the European Union’s statistics office. That amounts to an annualized rate of about 1.2 %.
Monday, February 17th 2014 - 09:21 UTC
Hague underlines close links with Colombia; meets President Santos Monday

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague was received on Sunday in Cartagena by Colombian Foreign minister María Angeles Holguín and on Monday is scheduled to meet with Juan Manuel Santos at the Palacio Nariño, seat of the Executive in Bogotá. Mr. Hague on Monday evening will be flying to Brazil.
Monday, February 17th 2014 - 09:09 UTC
Uruguay's budget surplus reached 2.3% of GDP in 2013

Despite a decade of sustained growth Uruguay's fiscal deficit reached 2.3% of GDP last year, which is an improvement over 2012, when it reached 2.8%, but above the government's target of 2.1%. In money terms this means the budget red was equivalent to 1.154bn dollars, including 350 million dollar losses from government owned companies.
Monday, February 17th 2014 - 09:03 UTC
Argentina vs hedge funds: second chapter of appeal before the US Supreme Court

The Argentine government will appeal on Monday before the US Supreme Court for the second time against the hedge funds claim. The Supreme Court is the last judiciary step in the dispute.
Monday, February 17th 2014 - 07:49 UTC
Argentina/Brazil diplomatic incident almost triggers another Mercosur stall

In what was described as a “shameful incident”, Brazil had to retract from statements made by one of its diplomats, a condition demanded by Argentina to continue negotiations for a Mercosur common tariffs reduction proposal which was taking place in Caracas. The incident occurred last week but only came to light over the weekend.