News of union

Scrum for chancellery as SPD takes lead in post-Merkel election

26-09-2021 21:26 Epochal election ushers in the end of 16 years in power for Merkel, and also thrusts Germany, a byword for stability, into a new period of political uncertainty.

Australia pursue three in a row against wounded Pumas

23-09-2021 13:30 Los Pumas and coach Mario Ledesma are under mounting pressure after four straight defeats, scoring just two tries while conceding 136 points.

President Fernández to host Lacalle Pou amid Mercosur tensions

12-08-2021 14:39 Alberto Fernández will host Luis Lacalle Pou at the Olivos presidential residence on Friday, with tensions over Mercosur's future likely to be discussed.

Death toll in South Africa unrest climbs to 72 as violence spreads

14-07-2021 09:42 Stores and warehouses in South Africa hit by looters for a fifth day running, despite deployment of troops by President Cyril Ramaphosa to quell unrest that has claimed 72 lives.

UIA leader Daniel Funes de Rioja: ‘I want ideas, not an ideology'

19-06-2021 09:30 Daniel Funes de Rioja, who currently serves as president of the influential Argentine Industrial Union (Unión Industrial Argentina) business group on inflation, economic policies and his ‘Triple C’ strategy.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

Mercosur’s future up for debate at key meeting

01-05-2021 00:21 Member nations agree to debate ‘flexibilisation’ of bloc’s rules at key meeting in May. Uruguay continues to push for liberalisation of tariffs, rules on free-trade deals.

Trade and Covid-19 vaccines top agenda for Mercosur summit

23-03-2021 13:22 Mercosur’s member nations will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the bloc's founding at a key summit this Friday, with the clear differences between them more than evident.

by Mariano Beldyk

More than 450 NGOs, groups condemn ‘obsolete’ EU-Mercosur trade deal

16-03-2021 17:26 More than 450 civil society groups, associations and NGOs call on Mercosur, European Union to “abandon” controversial free-trade deal.

UK top court shakes up gig economy with ruling against Uber

19-02-2021 14:19 UK's Supreme Court rules Uber drivers are entitled to breaks, holiday pay and minimum wage, in what has been described as "another nail in the coffin" for the gig economy.

Don’t expect ‘carnal relations’ between Alberto and Joe Biden

23-01-2021 08:31 One actor could tilt the scales, though: Pope Francis. Biden is the second Catholic president of the US, preceded by John F. Kennedy. How much will the Peronist leader of the Holy See nudge Biden our way?

by Agustino Fontevecchia

British, Euro leaders sign Brexit deal as MPs approve ratification

30-12-2020 14:15 Britain and the European Union sign post-Brexit trade deal, setting their seal on a drawn-out divorce just hours before the looming deadline.

UK-EU agree historic post-Brexit trade deal

26-12-2020 10:20 Britain and the European Union struck a post-Brexit trade deal on Christmas Eve that they hope will cushion the economic blow of the UK’s imminent departure from the bloc after months of tortuous negotiations.

Without environmental guarantees, EU-Mercosur trade deal faces uncertain future

23-11-2020 15:51 Historic free-trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur regional bloc, announced more than a year ago after more than two decades of negotiations, stuck in limbo due to environmental concerns.

Pumas revel in All Blacks shock after emotional virus-hit journey

15-11-2020 07:48 Argentina into Saturday's Tri Nations clash in Sydney having not played a Test in 13 months, while enduring coronavirus lockdowns in their homeland and in neighbouring Uruguay before quarantining for two weeks in Australia.

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.

France says opposes EU-Mercosur trade deal over deforestation concerns

18-09-2020 10:38 France opposed to free-trade deal in its current form due to "major" concerns about deforestation in the region, the government said on Friday.

What we learned this week: August 22 to 29

29-08-2020 09:39 Stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.

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. 

Beaumont v Pichot as World Rugby chairman election kicks off

28-04-2020 18:13 Voting for World Rugby's next chairman opened Monday, with incumbent 68-year-old former England captain Bill Beaumont facing competition from ex-Pumas skipper Agustín Pichot.

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.