Uruguay

• Monday, August 19th 2013 - 13:12 UTC

  Uruguay calls on Mercosur to sign a free trade agreement with United States

  

  Uruguayan Vice-President Danilo Astori said Mercosur must decisively address the signing of a free trade agreement with the United States, but also admits that “opportunities must be built”.

• Friday, August 16th 2013 - 18:00 UTC

  Canadian bank abandons Uruguay following raid on its office on request from Argentine judge

  

  The Royal Bank of Canada, RBC, is abandoning Uruguay following a raid in its offices at Zonamerica ordered by a Uruguayan magistrate on request from Argentina during which computers, documents on clients and even cell phones from staff were seized by the intervening party which included on-watching Argentine treasury police.

• Friday, August 16th 2013 - 02:57 UTC

  Paraguay new president pledges ‘war on poverty’ and improved relations with neighbours

  

  Conservative businessman Horacio Cartes was sworn in as president of Paraguay on Thursday, amid slowly improving relations with South American neighbors, and Mercosur members, damaged by the 2012 removal of populist President Fernando Lugo, who was impeached on incompetence.

• Thursday, August 15th 2013 - 03:51 UTC

  Mercosur controversy, Cartes main challenge when he takes office on Thursday

  

  Most presidents and top authorities that will attend the inauguration of Paraguayan president-elect Horacio Cartes on Thursday morning arrived in Asunción on Wednesday and most of them have already held private meetings with the future leader of the country.

• Tuesday, August 13th 2013 - 02:14 UTC

  Uruguay announces on-shore oil “scientific confirmation” but with no commercial certainty

  

  The Uruguayan government announced the discovery of free hydrocarbons liquids in core samples next to source rocks in the northern county of Salto at a depth of 450 metres, which seems to be similar to another discovery two years ago.

• Monday, August 12th 2013 - 18:10 UTC

  Brazil and Uruguay want a “two speeds” Mercosur agreement with the EU

  

  Brazil and Uruguay want to speed a trade agreement with the European Union but without abandoning Mercosur, and making it clear that they are willing to advance at “a different speed” than the rest of the group’s members, revealed a reliable source from the government of President Jose Mujica in Montevideo.

• Sunday, August 11th 2013 - 21:28 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez will attend Cartes inauguration in Paraguay; problems with Mercosur protocol

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernandez confirmed by writing that she would be attending the inauguration of Paraguayan president Horacio Cartes next Thursday 15 August, according the organization committee of the event in Asuncion, Ambassador Federico Gonzalez and head of Protocol at the Paraguayan foreign ministry.

• Saturday, August 10th 2013 - 02:33 UTC

  Vazquez is the Uruguayan political leader with the highest acceptance, 62%

  

  Former Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez who this week announced he was prepared to be the ruling coalition’s candidate for next year’s presidential bid, is by far the political leader of the country which has the highest degree of acceptance, according to a Mori public opinion poll released earlier in the week.

• Thursday, August 8th 2013 - 13:52 UTC

  Uruguay concludes successfully the issue of a new 2024 global bond

  

  Uruguay sold 2 billion in a new 2024 global bond at a yield of 4.521% as a part of a debt liability operation that includes a debt swap, the government said on Wednesday.

• Thursday, August 8th 2013 - 03:33 UTC

  Wonders of marihuana: sigh of relief as Vazquez confirms his presidential candidacy

  

  Uruguayan former president Tabare Vazquez confirmed on Wednesday he will run for the presidency next year, following a meeting with representatives from the groups which constitute the voting majority of the ruling Broad Front catch-all coalition.