Stories for January 2013

Thursday, January 31st 2013 - 07:14 UTC
Except for Uruguay, Mercosur ranks poorly in the World Press Freedom Index

Argentina dropped seven positions and now ranks 54 in the 2013 World Press Freedom Index of 179 countries elaborated by Reporters Without Frontiers. Uruguay is the best ranked in South America, position 27, while other Mercosur full members standing are not very encouraging: Paraguay, 91; Brazil, 108 and Venezuela, 117.
Thursday, January 31st 2013 - 07:10 UTC
Brazil’s media: highly concentrated and heavily reliant on government advertising

Reporters Without Borders released a report entitled “Brazil, the country of 30 Berlusconis” that examines all of the shortcomings of the country’s media landscape It is based on fact-finding visits to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Brasilia in November 2012.
Thursday, January 31st 2013 - 07:07 UTC
Fed admits ‘temporary pause’ in US economy and confirms stimuli package

The Federal Reserve left in place its monthly 85 billion dollars bond-buying stimulus plan, saying US economic growth had stalled but indicating the pullback was likely temporary.
Thursday, January 31st 2013 - 07:01 UTC
Argentine construction activity was down 3.2% in 2012, according to official stats

Argentina’s construction activity registered a 3.2% drop in 2012 compared to the volume reported the previous year, according to the Indec national statistics bureau. This would be the first time in three years that the industry experienced a broad slowdown.
Wednesday, January 30th 2013 - 15:34 UTC
US economy contracts in fourth quarter, first time since 2009 global recession

The US economy unexpectedly shrank at an annualised rate of 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2012, initial official estimates indicate. If confirmed, it would be the first contraction logged by the US economy since the 2009 global recession. The world's largest economy grew 3.1% in July to September.
Wednesday, January 30th 2013 - 15:18 UTC
Timerman taking the Falklands’ dispute to London in an event with EU figures

Foreign minister Hector Timerman will be taking the Falklands/Malvinas sovereignty claim to London where next week he is scheduled to meet outstanding figures from 18 European countries that have been calling for a resumption of negotiations, according to a release from the Argentine embassy in UK.
Wednesday, January 30th 2013 - 08:52 UTC
Brazilian economy creates the least payroll jobs in 2012 since 2003

The once-booming Brazilian economy created the fewest new jobs in a decade during 2012 as struggling manufacturing industries and mining companies hired fewer workers, according to Labour ministry data. Latinamerica’s leading economy added 1.3 million payroll jobs last year, the worst result since 2003 and way below the 2 million jobs created in 2011.
Wednesday, January 30th 2013 - 06:50 UTC
Obama pushes immigration initiative but ‘Gang of Eight’ insists on first securing Mexico’s border

US President Barack Obama pushed Congress on Tuesday to overhaul the country's immigration system but disagreement with Republicans over securing the border with Mexico has already begun to sour bipartisan efforts.
Wednesday, January 30th 2013 - 06:48 UTC
Paraguay suspended from Mercosur has requested Pacific Alliance observer status

Paraguay has formally requested to become an observer of the Alliance of the Pacific, revealed Foreign minister Jose Felix Fernandez Estigarribia, The Pacific group is made up of Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile, and actively promotes foreign investment and the private sector.
Wednesday, January 30th 2013 - 06:47 UTC
Pacific alliance pledges to liberalize intra-trade for 90% of products by March 31

The Alliance of the Pacific, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico have agreed to liberalize 90% of products traded between the group before the end of March 31, a decision which runs counter to the growing protectionism implemented by some of the region’s largest economies on the Atlantic.