Stories for August 6th 2012
Poor ranking for Uruguay’s main university; Brazil and Chile top of Latam list
Uruguay’s government-financed national university came up in position 79 in the QS academic quality international ranking of the top 100 Latinamerican universities. Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia were far better ranked than Uruguay’s Universidad de la Republica, Udelar, which has caused deep concern among government officials.
Bernanke appeals to the Himalayas to help explain current economic duress
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said that although broad measurements of the United States economy point to recovery, many people and businesses are facing tough times.
Dollar deposits and loans erosion in Argentina as restrictions become stricter
The strict and tightening US dollar purchase restrictions imposed in Argentina were clearly exposed in the banking system dollar deposits and loans during the last week of July when they dropped 3%, having accumulated 43% in the last few weeks, according to official data from the central bank.
Abuse of Chilean indigenous peoples questioned by human rights organizations
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) spoke out against human rights violations in the Araucanía region in south-central Chile on Thursday, calling on the government to investigate the chain of events last week resulting in the injuries of two minors by police bullets.
US Noble Energy farms in to explore for oil in east and south Falklands’ waters
London AIM listed Falkland Oil and Gas announced it has reached an agreement to farm out a 35% stake in most of its Falkland Islands’ exploration licenses to the US Noble Energy to help fund its drilling plans off the Islands.
Mercosur economic performance expected to lag behind Andean countries in 2012
Argentina and Brazil will experience an economic slowdown this year compared to 2011, while Paraguay, punished by drought and an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, will have the worst performance in Latin America, and Peru the best, according to the Argentine consultants Ecolatina
Venezuela will abandon the Inter American justice system because it is “awful and rotten”
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez reiterated that organisms such as the “awful, rotten and degenerate” Human Rights Inter American Court (CIDH) and the Inter American Court should disappear since they are “not worthy of the new world” ratifying his country will pull out from the two.
Lugo going to appeal before the Inter American Court his removal from office
Fernando Lugo said he would appeal to the Inter American Court the whole political impeachment process in the Senate that ended with his removal from the Paraguayan presidency in less than 48 hours and with little chance of a defence.
Ex-president says inclusion of Venezuela in Mercosur is “favourable for Uruguay”
Former president Jorge Batlle (2000/2005) said that the inclusion of Venezuela in Mercosur “is favourable for Uruguay” but at the same time insisted it was “wrongly done” for not having taken into account Paraguay’s opposition currently suspended as member of the regional block.
Ecuador negotiation to join Mercosur as full member begin next month
Mercosur will officially begin negotiation with Mercosur for its inclusion as full member in September announced the Brazilian news agency, ABR on Sunday. The meeting is scheduled for September 15 when the incorporation preliminaries will be addressed.
