Latin America

• Thursday, September 20th 2012 - 22:15 UTC

  Venezuelan electoral process, “one of the most advanced and reliable”

  

  The mission from Unasur (Union of South American Nations) that will be acting as ‘accompanying observer’ in the coming presidential elections in Venezuela, 7 October, and the only organization allowed to fulfil that task, said that the Venezuelan electoral process is one of the “most trustworthy and reliable”.

• Thursday, September 20th 2012 - 06:00 UTC

  Chile and Peru, countries with the highest economic freedom score in Latam

  

  Latin America shows a huge diversity regarding economic freedom with Chile (10) and Peru (24) among the top ranked 25 countries and another four, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina and Venezuela at the other end according to the latest report on Global Economic Freedom.

• Thursday, September 20th 2012 - 05:55 UTC

  Venezuela’s Capriles with a fair chance of winning the “mother of all political battles”

  

  With less than three weeks for the “mother of all political battles” in Venezuela but that will have repercussions in the rest of the continent, the latest public opinion polls are indicating that opposition candidate Henrique Capriles is leading with 52% vote intention while Hugo Chavez has 48%.

• Thursday, September 20th 2012 - 01:43 UTC

  Colombia rapidly becoming another “positive surprise” from Latinamerica

  

  Colombia could in few years be among the group of leading economies in the world with the highest growth rate based on positive indicators and a steady inflow of investments, according to experts from the Spanish bank during an economic forum.

• Thursday, September 20th 2012 - 01:40 UTC

  Brazil announces auctioning of new oil concessions for next May

  

  Brazil's Dilma Roussef has approved the auctioning of new oil concessions next year, subject to congressional approval of a new royalties law, authorities said. The 11th auction outside the pre-salt next May would involve 74 oil blocks, half at sea and half on land.

• Wednesday, September 19th 2012 - 21:15 UTC

  Don’t wait for the end of the EU crisis: boost trade among emerging economies, recommends Brazil

  

  Brazilian finance minister Guido Mantega said that resolving Europe’s economic problems are likely to drag out over coming years due to a complex and slow process of decision-making in the region and recommended emerging economies to promote domestic consumption and trade among them.

• Wednesday, September 19th 2012 - 21:07 UTC

  Spain has not invited Paraguay to the Ibero-American summit confirms Asunción

  

  Spain has not invited Paraguay to the Ibero-American summit in Cadiz scheduled for next November confirmed Paraguayan Foreign minister Jose Felix Fernandez Estigarribia, who also admitted that the number of countries ‘disgusted’ with the new administration of President Federico Franco has diminished considerably.

• Wednesday, September 19th 2012 - 06:12 UTC

  Bad debts held by Spanish banks reach 169bn Euros or 10% of total loans

  

  The value of bad debts held by Spain's banks in July rose to 169.3bn Euros, according to latest figures from the central bank. The Bank of Spain said 9.9% of banks' total loans were in arrears, up from 9.4% a month before.

• Wednesday, September 19th 2012 - 06:10 UTC

  Leading political figure of Spain’s contemporary history dies

  

  Veteran Communist leader Santiago Carrillo, Spain's last surviving public figure to have taken an active part in the civil war and the reinstatement of democracy has died at age 97, sources close to the family said.

• Wednesday, September 19th 2012 - 05:55 UTC

  IMF, World Bank annual meetings return to South America after 48 years

  

  The 2015 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund will take place in Lima, Peru, in October 2015, following a vote by the Boards of Governors of the two institutions.