Latin America

• Monday, March 26th 2012 - 08:41 UTC

  Benedict in Mexico condemns drug trafficking, corruption and ‘futile acts of revenge’

  

  Pope Benedict at a huge outdoor Mass on Sunday condemned drug trafficking and corruption in Mexico, urging people to put aside violence and revenge in the country where a murderous war between cartels has led to tens of thousands of deaths.

• Sunday, March 25th 2012 - 08:37 UTC

  Chavez in Cuba for cancer radiation treatment; promises to be back in several days

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will return to Cuba to begin radiation treatment for cancer on Sunday, but said he was in ‘good shape’ and would be back home in several days.

• Saturday, March 24th 2012 - 08:51 UTC

  Uruguay’s economy slows in fourth quarter but expands a “very good” 5.7% in 2011

  

  Uruguay’s economic growth slowed more than economists forecast in the fourth quarter as a refinery closure and the start of a drought trimmed a nine-year expansion; nevertheless the Central Bank said overall expansion in the twelve months of 2011 was “very good” in the current global context and just short of government’s target.

• Saturday, March 24th 2012 - 03:05 UTC

  Peru regrets HMS Montrose incident and underlines strong relations with the UK

  

  Cabinet Chief Oscar Valdes said that he is sure Peru and UK will be able to overcome a diplomatic rift caused by Lima’s last minute cancellation of a visit to the port of Callao this week of Britain’s HMS Montrose, a navy frigate that has been patrolling the South Atlantic and the Falkland Islands.

• Saturday, March 24th 2012 - 02:52 UTC

  Argentina is facing serious trade problems and Brazil “must help in a mature way”

  

  Argentina is having serious trade problems and Brazil “in a mature way” must try and help solve them said a top official from President Dilma Rousseff administration, who anticipated he would be travelling to Buenos Aires in coming weeks.

• Friday, March 23rd 2012 - 02:18 UTC

  Canada in exploratory talks with Mercosur for a trade agreement

  

  Canadian Minister of International Trade Ed Fast has concluded a two-day trade visit to Argentina, to promote the conclusion of exploratory talks towards a possible free trade agreement (FTA) with the Mercosur trade bloc.

• Friday, March 23rd 2012 - 00:41 UTC

  Dakar rally confirms next edition along the Pacific, Chile and Peru

  

  Dakar Rally’s organization confirmed that next year’s 35th edition of the world’s most famous race will also be the 5th to take place on the South American continent, which has hosted the event since 2009.

• Friday, March 23rd 2012 - 00:34 UTC

  Populism very much alive in Latam subtly converted to ‘delegative’ democracy

  

  Populism in Latinamerica has moved from the dictatorships of past decades to the so called “delegative” democracies such as those of Venezuela and Argentina, according to a group of Latam intellectuals meeting in Peru in an international seminar, “Latin America: opportunities and challenges”.

• Thursday, March 22nd 2012 - 21:23 UTC

  Peru ministers disagree and public opinion divided on HMS Montrose incident

  

  Peruvian ministers openly disagreed over the recent decision to turn back the Royal Navy’s HMS Montrose, in solidarity with Argentina and its sovereignty claims over the Falklands/Malvinas Islands.

• Wednesday, March 21st 2012 - 06:29 UTC

  Latam and Caribbean with the highest rate of homicides in the world, says IDB

  

  President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Luis Alberto Moreno urged Latin America and Caribbean governments to learn from and replicate successful experiences in the prevention of crime and violence in the region.