Stories for December 2012

Friday, December 14th 2012 - 05:19 UTC
EIU where-to-be-born index has Chile first in Latam and Argentina behind Brazil and Mexico

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), a sister company of The Economist, has released today its 2013 where-to-be-born index, which measures which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead. Argentina is ranked in position 40, behind Chile, Brazil and Mexico, and far worse than when the first index published in 1988.
Friday, December 14th 2012 - 05:15 UTC
Argentina announces payments of over 3.5bn dollars in GDP-linked bonds

Economy Minister Hernán Lorenzino announced on Thursday Argentina will be making payments for more than 3.5 billion dollars in GDP-linked bonds, at the Economy Ministry.
Lorenzino presented the payment as a triumph against the hedge-funds.
Friday, December 14th 2012 - 05:01 UTC
Brazil plans to build 800 regional airports linking cities with 100.000-population

Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, told reporters in Paris her government intends to build approximately 800 regional airports in Brazil. The project considers that each city with over 100.000 inhabitants should have an airport within a 60-kilometer range.
Friday, December 14th 2012 - 04:55 UTC
World’s largest pulp and forestry complex begins operation in south Brazil

Brazilian group JBS-Friboi, a leading global exporter of meat products, has inaugurated an industrial complex for pulp production with an investment of 6.2 billion Reais (approx 3 billion dollars).
Friday, December 14th 2012 - 04:45 UTC
‘Argentina’s behaviour’ main obstacle for EU/Mercosur trade talks says Brussels

The European Union Trade Commissioner openly accused “Argentina’s behaviour” as the main obstacle in discussions to advance and reach a free trade agreement with Mercosur.
Thursday, December 13th 2012 - 23:39 UTC
Brazilians dissatisfied with Judges and Police, trusts Armed Forces and Catholic Church

A majority of the Brazilian population, 63% is dissatisfied with the performance of the police forces and 90% considers the justice system ‘too slow” according to a survey from the Getulio Vargas Foundation think-tank Law School, released this week.
Thursday, December 13th 2012 - 23:18 UTC
International tourism reaches a billion and the industry celebrates

One billion tourists have traveled the world in 2012, marking a new record for international tourism – a sector that accounts for one in every 12 jobs and 30% of the world’s services exports. On the symbolic arrival date of the one-billionth tourist, 13 December 2012, UNWTO revealed the actions tourists can take to ensure their trips benefit the people and places they visit, as voted by the public.
Thursday, December 13th 2012 - 22:57 UTC
Chavez in critical condition with three months to live, says Venezuelan doctor

Venezuelan doctor Jose Rafael Marquina, who is based in the US and is known for his accurate prognoses on President Hugo Chavez’s health, told a local Florida radio that the Venezuelan leader Chavez has “between two and three months to live”.
Thursday, December 13th 2012 - 22:43 UTC
Royal Navy shows the flag in Gibraltar waters; 197 Spanish unlawful incursions this year

A Royal Navy warship used a routine logistical visit to Gibraltar on Wednesday to patrol British waters around the Rock. The highly unusual move came a day after an incursion by a Spanish Navy vessel and against the background of diplomatic tension between the UK and Spain over the waters row.
Thursday, December 13th 2012 - 07:23 UTC
Rousseff warns austerity measures alone are not sufficient to address economic crises

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff criticized in Paris policies that are limited to austerity when facing crises because they are not effective in economic terms and only generate ‘more recession and unemployment”.