Stories for June 2011
China loans and oil prices boost Ecuador economy two years after default
Ecuador’s bonds are rewarding investors with the best performance in Latin America as Chinese loans and higher oil prices boost confidence in the economy two years after the country defaulted on 3.2 billion US dollars in debt.
CFK picks Economy minister as running mate and targets young voters
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner picked Economy minister Amado Boudou to be her running mate in the presidential ticket for the October 23 election praising his loyalty and capacity to understand and accept change.
Chile tourism promotion in 3D following agreement with LG Corp
“Chile is good for you.” Viewers across the globe will be reading this phrase, following footage of smiling kayakers and playful porpoises, surrounded by a breathtaking landscape of snow-capped Andes Mountains. All brought to you by the Chilean government and the good people of LG Corp.
Great victory for gay rights movement: New York legalizes same-sex marriage
New York lawmakers narrowly voted to legalize same-sex marriage Friday, handing activists a breakthrough victory in the state where the gay rights movement was born. New York thus becomes the sixth state in the US where gay couples can wed and the biggest by far.
Canada interested in closer links with Mercosur announces ‘exploratory talks’
Canada and Mercosur agreed on Friday to hold exploratory talks to strengthen their relationship, Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast said on Friday. Fast is currently in Asunción to promote bilateral trade and investments, and Paraguay currently holds the Mercosur chair.
Argentina’s economic activity soars 9.1% in first four months, says Indec
Argentina’s economic activity level increased 9.1% in the first four months of the year compared to the same period of 2010 fuelled by domestic consumption, manufacturing and international trade, according to the country’s Statistics and Census Office, Indec.
Brazil preparing to licence 45 ports to operators; the first Amazon city of Manaus
Brazil's government, which has already begun the process of handing over airports to private investment, is now preparing 45 ports to be licensed to operators, Estado de S Paulo newspaper reported Friday.
Torture remains prevalent in too many countries, UN warns
Too many countries are still practising or tolerating “cruel, degrading and illegal” acts of torture, top United Nations officials said today as they pledged the UN's solidarity with the millions of torture victims worldwide.
Argentina not to be sanctioned over money laundering, says FATF
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) announced it will not sanction Argentina over money laundering and “admitted the political commitment and the progress achieved by the country, specially the great advances it made in the regulations after the approval of the law to fight the money laundering, and the recommendations given in order to continue improving the system.”
Europe tightens borders to block the influx of immigrants
European Union leaders agreed Friday to tighten migration safeguards, including potentially reintroducing border controls between states, in a controversial response to an influx of migrants fleeing North Africa's upheaval.
