Politics

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 23:19 UTC

  With Venezuela Mercosur has become “a new pole of world power”

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernández said on Tuesday during a press conference held at the Mercosur extraordinary summit in Brasilia, that Venezuela’s entry to the bloc “strengthens the entire region” and creates a “new pole of power” at world level.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 22:22 UTC

  Second risk rating agency upgrades Uruguay to investment grade

  

  Moody's Investor Service upgraded Uruguay's sovereign ratings from Ba1 to Baa3, following Standard & Poor's upgrade announced on April.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 11:22 UTC

  Brazil’s “major corruption trial” takes off Thursday and involves 38 politicians

  

  Brazil’s Supreme Tribunal is preparing details for the so called “major trial” of the country’s history which accuses 38 high ranking politicians and officials involved in a 2005 corruption case which almost tumbled the government of then President Lula da Silva.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 07:42 UTC

  Not without controversy Venezuela becomes Mercosur fifth full member

  

  Following a full day of deliberations in Brasilia between Foreign Affairs ministers, the presidents from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, on Tuesday will formally receive Venezuela as the new full member of Mercosur, as was agreed at the regular mid year summit in Mendoza.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 04:04 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez prepares another ‘independence day’ celebration next Friday

  

  Argentina is ready to cancel next Friday a bond issue which was handed out to residents with bank deposits victims of the so called “corralito” (paddock) in 2002 when the collapse of the Argentine economy and financial system.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 01:58 UTC

  Increase of non resident deposits in Uruguayan banks

  

  The number of bank accounts of non residents in Uruguay climbed 14% in June compared to a year ago, --6.769 new clients--, which is higher than the increase verified for the whole number of residents and non residents, up 2%, according to Uruguay’s central bank data.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 01:25 UTC

  Brazil: Violent land disputes between tribes and ranchers on the rise

  

  Violent disputes over indigenous land are on the rise in Brazil, sparking heightened militancy by natives angered by broken promises of compensation and slower government registrations.

• Tuesday, July 31st 2012 - 01:19 UTC

  Chavez after an energy alliance with Argentina and Brazil in the framework of Mercosur

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez announced he expected to sign an oil/gas alliance between Argentina’s YPF and PDVSA (Venezuelan Petroleum) when he meets with his peer Cristina Fernandez in Brasilia in the framework of the Mercosur extraordinary summit to officially incorporate the country as full member of the trade group.

• Monday, July 30th 2012 - 23:28 UTC

  As world food-prices soar World Bank says it is ready to help countries

  

  The World Bank on Monday said it stood ready to help governments respond to a broad-based run-up in grain prices that has again put the world’s poorest people at risk and could have lingering detrimental impacts for years.

• Monday, July 30th 2012 - 21:39 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez “wonder boy” saves in dollars and has property in Uruguay

  

  Argentina’s Cristina Fernandez “wonder boy” seems to be missing on his homework. According to the Argentine media Economy Deputy Minister Axel Kicillof not only has his savings in US dollars but owns real estate in Uruguay, which Argentina considers an overseas fiscal paradise.