
The presidents of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, the four member states of the Pacific Alliance, met on Thursday in the Chilean town of Puerto Varas to strengthen their economic integration in order to deal with the ravages of global finance. They also called for closer links with the European Union to bolster education for development.

“Business as usual”, because there will be no immediate effects to the way people travel, is the message to Falkland Islands travel trade and consumer, following the British people Brexit vote for change in the future, underlined in a release Tony Mason, Director of International Communications for the Falklands Tourist Board.

Six Latin American leaders and a president-elect will be participating in the two day Pacific Alliance business forum and presidential summit hosted by Chile and beginning on Thursday.

United States, Canada and Mexico on Wednesday in Ottawa held their first summit after years of aloofness and held themselves up as an example against growing protectionist tendencies around the world.

Mercosur is again split over Venezuela because Paraguay, and apparently Brazil, have not been consulted regarding the decision to hand the pro tempore presidency of the block to Venezuela in July, as was agreed in Montevideo by Uruguay and Argentina.

Argentina's economy grew 0.5% in the first quarter the government said on Wednesday, adding that it saw activity leveling out this year before accelerating in 2017. The year-on-year result, published by the newly revamped Indec statistics agency, followed analysts' forecasts for a 1.3% contraction for the January through March period.

There was a nasty surprise awaiting passengers in the arrivals hall at Rio De Janeiro's Galeao International Airport on Monday. Along with the relatives carrying flowers and taxi drivers waiting with name boards there were lines of off-duty police with banners that had a far more ominous message: Welcome to Hell.

The US economy grew faster than previously estimated in the first quarter of the year, according to official figures. The Commerce Department said gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual pace of 1.1% in the quarter, up from an earlier estimate of 0.8%. The upwards revision was helped by stronger export sales.

Prime Minister David Cameron said on Tuesday in Brussels that the rest of the EU wants to have the “closest possible” relationship with the UK after Brexit. After discussing the vote to leave with other EU leaders, he said trade and security co-operation would be vital whatever the shape of future links.

Argentina's double-digit inflation has shown signs of easing this month, the central bank said on Tuesday as it cut its 35-day reference rate for the eighth week in a row. As part of its effort to get Latin America's No. 3 economy out of the doldrums while containing consumer prices, the bank sliced 75 basis points off the interest rate to 30.75%.