Latin America

Friday, May 23rd 2014 - 23:42 UTC
ECLAC/ILO anticipate less job creation in Latam as the overall economy slows down

The economic scenario for 2014, with an estimated average growth rate of 2.7%, is far from encouraging for the evolution of the Latin American regional labor market and presents major challenges for labor market policy, said the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) in a new joint report released this week.
Friday, May 23rd 2014 - 22:25 UTC
Dominican Republic tourism industry success story: 4.7 million tourists in 2013

The Dominican Republic’s 2013 visitor numbers grew by 3.6% over the previous year, outpacing the entire Caribbean region, which recorded growth in tourism of only 1%. Tourism minister Francisco Javier Garcia described it as “an extraordinary year.”
Friday, May 23rd 2014 - 11:52 UTC
Santos-Uribe rivalry has turned the presidential campaign into a mudslinging contest

Accusations of bribes from drug traffickers, spying and email hacking have turned Colombia’s presidential election into an ugly slugfest that has further polarized a country trying to emerge from its violent past.
Friday, May 23rd 2014 - 10:36 UTC
European lawmakers warn about the impact of a EU/Mercosur accord

European Parliament lawmakers Marian Harkin and Pat The Cope Gallagher have issued strong warnings of soundings coming from Europe of a potential Mercosur trade deal, particularly European Commission President Barroso intention of having the agreement signed before he steps down from office.
Thursday, May 22nd 2014 - 00:35 UTC
OAS deploys observers in Colombia for Sunday’s presidential election

Former President of Costa Rica, José María Figueres, has begun the deployment of 64 international experts and observers in Colombia ahead of the country’s presidential election on Sunday May 25.
Wednesday, May 21st 2014 - 07:10 UTC
Mosquito-borne Chikunguna cases reported in Miami

The viral mosquito-borne disease, Chikunguna, has been confirmed in three counties of the state of Florida. According to the Florida Department of Health, the women who recently travelled to the Caribbean include a 29-year-old from Broward County.
Monday, May 19th 2014 - 07:58 UTC
Calls for Colombian opposition presidential candidate to quit over spying

A candidate in Colombia's presidential elections next Sunday has called on the leading opposition candidate, Oscar Ivan Zuluaga, to quit the race after new video evidence of spying by his campaign consultant on peace talks with leftist rebels.
Saturday, May 17th 2014 - 09:03 UTC
Brazilian police tells tourists that if attacked “don't fight, scream or argue”

If attacked in Brazil: “Don't fight, scream or argue”. That's the advice being offered to tourists by São Paulo Civil Police ahead of this year's World Cup games which authorities have revealed will be enforced by armored, “RoboCop”-styled riot police.
Saturday, May 17th 2014 - 08:55 UTC
Another chapter of Colombia peace talks closed; FARC admits links with the drug trade

Colombia's government and FARC rebels announced on Friday an agreement to jointly combat illicit drug trade in the country as part of a six-point peace plan. The deal comes ahead of May 25 elections in the country and is an implicit admission of the guerrillas' links with the drug trade.
Saturday, May 17th 2014 - 07:11 UTC
Venezuela's protests should be over by July when the summer holidays, says top security official

Venezuela’s three-month protest movement has dwindled to a hard core of a few hundred violent troublemakers and the unrest should be over by July, when schools and universities break up for the summer holidays, a top security official said.