ECLAC Projection UN slashes LatAm economic slowdown projection 16-12-2020 16:06 Executive secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean Alicia Bárcena predicts the region will experience growth of 3.7 percent in 2021.
Mercosur 'Distrust' of Brazil stalls EU-Mercosur trade deal 13-12-2020 19:45 Concerns over Amazon deforestation under Bolsonaro are delaying the ratification of a two-decades long negotiated trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur.
TERROR THREAT? Argentina tightens border after tip-off warns of bomb attack on Jewish community 15-11-2020 10:34 Security Ministry opens probe after anonymous tipster warns Embassy in London that explosive material is due to cross border with Paraguay “for a bomb in Argentina with a Jewish objective.”
WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS Argentina's perfect start cut short by ever-competitive Paraguay 12-11-2020 23:43 Argentina went into Thursday's World Cup qualifier hoping to extend their perfect start to the competition, but had to settle for a tense 1-1 draw against a combative Paraguay side by Dan Edwards
ENVIRONMENT South America ravaged by unprecedented drought and fires 26-10-2020 07:00 Exacerbated by a historic drought, larges swathes of forest and wetlands in central South America known for their exceptional biodiversity have been ravaged by devastating fires.
CRIME & SECURITY Remains of seven bodies found in Paraguay fertiliser shipment 25-10-2020 15:17 Paraguayan police have found the remains of seven people in an advanced stage of decomposition a container of fertiliser that arrived in the country from Serbia.
ENVIRONMENT & ECONOMY Drought depletes Paraguay River, a country's lifeline 12-10-2020 12:14 The Paraguay River has reached its lowest level in half a century after months of extreme drought in the region, exposing the vulnerability of a landlocked economy.
EU-MERCOSUR DEAL Brazil rejects deforestation concerns on EU-Mercosur deal 23-09-2020 16:12 Brazil hits back at European reluctance to finalise EU-Mercosur trade deal, saying a French report on environmental concerns is motivated by "protectionist interests."
EU-MERCOSUR DEAL Key EU states fear Mercosur pact may hurt Amazon 21-09-2020 08:22 EU commissioner admits not all EU nations "are aligned" on trade deal with Mercosur nations, as fears historic accord could hurt the Amazon grow.
ENVIRONMENT Wetlands are burning across South America with farmers to blame 31-08-2020 07:00 About 2,500 kilometres south of the Amazon rainforest, other one-of-a-kind ecosystems are falling victim to fire and axe.
FORMER BRAZIL STAR Ronaldinho released from Paraguay detention after five months 25-08-2020 09:08 Retired Brazilian footballer released from house arrest after spending five months detained in Paraguay for entering the country with a false passport.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL Merkel expresses 'significant doubts' over EU-Mercosur trade pact 21-08-2020 14:12 German chancellor expresses "significant doubts" over landmark EU-Mercosur free trade deal, citing concerns over the devastating deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.
Global pandemic Virus rages in South America as governments grasp for clues 18-08-2020 15:38 From incoherent mask rules to inconsistent social distancing, South America’s response to the novel coronavirus has been all over the map – here's a look at how each nation is doing.
ENVIRONMENT Pollution turns one side of divided Paraguayan lagoon purple 05-08-2020 23:40 The Cerro Lagoon in the Paraguayan city of Limpio is sharply divided into two parts: one purple, one blue. One part emits a foul odour, the other doesn’t.
EU-MERCOSUR TALKS EU watchdog opens probe into Mercosur trade deal 10-07-2020 12:16 EU Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly confirms investigation will be opened into historic trade deal with Mercosur, after environmental and rights groups complained that the deal does not respect the EU’s legal obligations.
BEEF INDUSTRY Beef industry surmounts coronavirus-led disruption of trade 20-06-2020 11:01 Exports overall dropped in the first third of 2020, but overseas beef sales rose more than 10% in the same period, when compared to the previous year.
Mercosur negotiations Argentina on board for Mercosur trade talks after 'gradual change in discourse' 10-05-2020 10:00 A teleconference this Thursday assessed the courses of action on the Mercosur negotiations already concluded with the European Union, the ongoing negotiations with Canada, Korea, Singapore and Lebanon, and the deepening of agreements already signed with Israel and India.
Mercosur trade talks Mercosur talks complicated by Argentina's decision, says Paraguay 27-04-2020 12:59 With surprise on the part of the authorities and criticism from the industrial sector about the effectiveness of the economic integration project, the announcement by Argentina to abandon the negotiations being carried out by Mercosur was received in Paraguay.
MERCOSUR TRADE BLOC Opposition slams government's decision to pull out of Mercosur trade talks 26-04-2020 09:34 Citing economic policy priorities and the effects of the Covid-19 crisis, President Alberto Fernandez’s administration has withdrawn from ongoing and future talks involving the Mercosur trade bloc.
False passport drama Ronaldinho enjoys 'golden cell' in locked-down Paraguay capital 16-04-2020 19:36 With Paraguay's capital under lockdown, former Brazil star Ronaldinho is spending his second week under house arrest at an exclusive hotel in Asunción, as he awaits trial for entering the country under a false passport.
BLOOMBERG - OPINION Coronavirus thrives in Latin America’s multilateral vacuum 25-03-2020 15:47 Shutting down is part of the new global normal. The danger in Latin America is that such sweeping measures feed the tempting illusion that walls, wilfulness and nativism are the way to beat a threat that is already ubiquitous. by Mac Margolis
Footballer in Jail Paraguayan judge orders Ronaldinho to remain in prison 10-03-2020 16:09 The former Brazilian football star's request for house arrest was rejected on the grounds that, if he were to flee, it could hinder the investigation, which may involve high level Paraguayan officials.
Mercosur's integration 'Very important' nations seeking Mercosur trade deals, says Uruguay official 09-03-2020 13:45 Potential trade partners are pursuing regional commercial bloc after a sweeping deal with the European Union showed most of its members are open to business, says Ernesto Talvi.
Footballer in Paraguay From Paraguay, Ronaldinho's lawyer denies fake passport allegation 05-03-2020 21:47 Former Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho has been accused of arriving in Paraguay with a fake passport, though his lawyer denies the allegation.
UNDER-23 TOURNAMENT Top stars miss out on Olympic football qualifying tournament 16-01-2020 20:03 Tournament is not an official FIFA event, and so clubs have no obligation to make their players available.
Bloomberg Paraguay set for economic rebound after recession 14-01-2020 16:04 Central Bank chief says Paraguay's economy will expand 4.1% as a broad recovery spanning agriculture to industry takes hold.
MERCOSUR SUMMIT Tensions loom large at Macri's final Mercosur summit 05-12-2019 18:14 Macri bids farewell to Mercosur at summit in Brazil, with regional bloc reeling from US steel and aluminum tariffs and tensions between Bolsonaro and Alberto Fernández.
FUTURE OF MERCOSUR? Changing Mercosur bloc meets in Brazil after US tariffs blow 05-12-2019 07:26 Focus of bloc's 55th summit – the last for President Mauricio Macri – looked set to be the arrival of Alberto Fernández in office. The Mercosur now has more immediate concerns: Donald Trump.
LAVA JATO Brazilian police seek arrest of former Paraguay president Horacio Cartes 20-11-2019 15:03 Brazilian police are seeking the arrest of Cartes as part of an investigation into kickbacks and money-laundering. Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that former president is among 20 suspects being sought by Brazilian police.
CRISIS IN ECUADOR Argentina slams Maduro, offers 'strong support' for Ecuador's Moreno 08-10-2019 17:29 Seven Latin American governments, including Argentina, offer 'strong support' for under-fire Ecuador President Lenín Moreno, who is facing large protests over rising fuel prices. Nations criticise 'any action' by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro intended to 'destabilise' government.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL Austria rejects EU-Mercosur trade deal over Amazon fires 19-09-2019 09:49 Key committee in Austrian Parliament rejects draft free-trade agreement between EU and Mercosur over concerns about fires in the Amazon.
'Braxit'? A Latin American Brexit? Analysing Brazil’s threat on Mercosur 16-09-2019 07:30 Jair Bolsonaro has said Brazil could leave Mercosur if Argentina, the second-largest economy in the customs union, pivots to the left after presidential elections in October. But how feasible is such a break?
STROESSNER HOUSE OF HORROR Paraguay police search for more bodies in ex-dictator's house 13-09-2019 20:14 Truth commission investigators say the homes of former dictator Alfredo Stroessner were used for orgies with young girls and women.
MERCOSUR Norway says timing of EFTA-Mercosur pact 'awful' 27-08-2019 12:45 Norway, which is part of European Free Trade Agreement (EFTA) grouping four non-EU members, on Tuesday regretted the "awful timing" of a trade pact with Mercosur, as fires rage in the Amazon.
TRADE DEALS Mercosur reaches EFTA trade deal with European countries 23-08-2019 22:13 The agreement with the European Free Trade Association formed by Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, comes two months after Mercosur sealed a landmark trade deal with the European Union.
IVANKA IN ARGENTINA Ivanka Trump to visit Argentina in September 08-08-2019 15:15 The US President's daughter and adviser will also travel to Paraguay to promote her women's economic equality initiative.
BLOOMBERG Latin America's central banks poised to join global rate cut party 25-07-2019 09:52 Brazil, Peru and Mexico indicate rate cuts are on the cards, but Argentina remains the outlier.
MERCOSUR Paraguay seeks car deals with Mercosur neighbours as growth slows 17-07-2019 16:53 Paraguay remains only Mercosur without agreement on cars with rest of trade bloc, FM says
FREE-TRADE DEAL EU slams 'misinformation' about Mercosur trade deal 15-07-2019 16:23 Accord has raised alarm in some European countries that the continent will be flooded with beef and other agricultural imports, subjecting domestic farmers to unfair competition and consumers to unsafe food.
EU-Mercosur Macron has 'questions' about various aspects of EU-Mercosur deal 10-07-2019 17:54 A spokesperson for the French government said that the French president still had lingering questions about “environmental” and “health” provisions as well as conditions regarding “sensitive sectors.”
BLOOMBERG Latin America and free trade score a win with EU-Mercosur deal 09-07-2019 15:22 Who knew that even as China and the United States played chicken with international trade, 31 nations with a tenth of world population and a fourth of its wealth would agree to abide by global rules and swap goods freely across the Atlantic? by Mac Margolis
MASSIVE POWER CUT Government blames firm's 'faulty reprogramming' for June 16 black-out 04-07-2019 18:27 "The Argentine electrical system is robust, [but] a chain of failures led to collapse," Lopetegui said as he faced questioning over the unprecedented shutdown.
Copa América Brazil beats Paraguay in shootout in Copa América quarters 28-06-2019 13:40 The Seleção will play in the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time since 2007.
DEAL OR NO DEAL? EU tells Macri, Bolsonaro: There's still work left to do on Mercosur trade deal 07-06-2019 10:19 EU officials brush off suggestions from presidents of Argentina and Brazil that a sweeping free-trade deal with the European bloc is close to being signed.