Latin America

• Tuesday, June 4th 2013 - 04:56 UTC

  Brazil shields borders with state of the art scanners and drones, ahead of major global events

  

  Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announced this week plans to strengthen the fight against cross-border organized crime by equipping state and local governments with high-tech scanners and surveillance equipment.

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 17:47 UTC

  Uruguay is Latinamerica’s most gay-friendly country and ranks tenth worldwide

  

  Uruguay was deemed the friendliest toward gay in Latinamerica and among the top countries in the world, according to the latest Spartacus International Gay Travel Index which ranks 139 countries worldwide.

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 07:15 UTC

  Francis and Mujica full of praise for each other share 45 minutes in the Vatican

  

  “The Pope is very pleased for having met with a wise man”, was the official report from the Holy See following the 45 minute private audience of Francis with Uruguayan president Jose Mujica, the longest so far with a head of state. Although Mujica is a declared atheist and did not attend the inauguration of the first Latinamerican pope last March, he did request an interview with Francis, which took place on Saturday.

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 05:30 UTC

  In four months Uruguay exports fell faster than imports: billion dollar deficit

  

  Uruguay’s trade deficit climbed to over a billion dollars in the first four months of the year compared to 975 million dollars in the same period a year ago. So far this year the fall in exports has been stronger than that of imports, which has led to the 1.045 billion dollars deficit according to the latest stats from the Central bank.

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 05:17 UTC

  Uruguay ruling coalition warned about budget deficit and loss of labour productivity

  

  Uruguayan economic officials have warned the ruling coalition Broad Front about the regional risk-situation in complex Argentina and stalled Brazil, and its influence on Uruguay which needs to lower its budget deficit and improve labour productivity and competitiveness.

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 05:13 UTC

  Xi Jinping visits Mexico to try and improve political and trade cooperation

  

  The leaders of Mexico and China will meet for the second time in two months this week, a sign of deepening cooperation, even as the Latin American nation seeks to close a huge trade deficit. Chinese President Xi Jinping will be treated to a lavish two-day state visit in Mexico that begins on Tuesday, with an event at the Campo Marte military field with President Enrique Peña Nieto and a speech to Congress.

• Monday, June 3rd 2013 - 05:02 UTC

  Falklands’ ex-governor Lamont chairman of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust

  

  Donald Lamont, a former British ambassador and former governor of the Falkland Islands took over as chairman of the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust. He replaces Philippa Foster Back, who retires from the position having served as trustee since 2000 and chair for the past seven years.

• Saturday, June 1st 2013 - 19:03 UTC

  Biden meets Rousseff, underlines the importance of a broader relationship with Brazil

  

  US Vice-President Joe Biden wound up a visit to Brazil on Friday saying it was high time the two largest economies in the Americas became closer partners in trade, investment and energy. He made the statement following a ‘wide-ranging discussion’ with President Dilma Rousseff at the Planalto palace in Brasilia.

• Saturday, June 1st 2013 - 17:34 UTC

  Argentina dollar markets waiting for implementation of the ‘whitewashing bill’

  

  The US dollar in Argentina’s parallel or ‘blue market’ finished on Friday the month of May down 6.4% from the 9.40 Pesos at the end of April, including a slight drop in the last day of trading, that took it to 8.75 Pesos and 8.80 Pesos, buying and selling price.

• Saturday, June 1st 2013 - 17:27 UTC

  Argentina insists with self-sufficiency in oil production in four years

  

  Argentine President Cristina Fernández administration agreed with oil-producing provinces and unions from the sector to strictly control the levels of exploration, production, the amount of equipment in use and the total number of jobs in each of the oil fields across the country, with the goal of reaching hydrocarbon self-sufficiency within four years.