Latin America

• Saturday, June 16th 2012 - 05:57 UTC

  Chilean Lower House votes unanimously to end “copper law” that finances the military

  

  Chilean Defence Minister Andrés Allamand achieved this week a unanimous vote in the Chamber of Deputies for the proposal to change the funding system for the Armed Forces. The proposal, should it gain approval in the Senate, would put an end to the so-called “copper law,” which has been in effect since 1958.

• Saturday, June 16th 2012 - 05:55 UTC

  Chile’s leaves basic rate unchanged at 5%; annual inflation in May, 3.1%

  

  Chile’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 5% for a fifth consecutive month as inflation in the world’s top copper producer eased and unemployment continued to decline.

• Friday, June 15th 2012 - 19:32 UTC

  Brazil economy continues anaemic; consumption boost expected in second half of 2012

  

  The Brazilian economy contracted in April for the first time on an annual basis since September 2009, reinforcing economists’ expectations that Latin America’s largest economy will slow for a second consecutive year.

• Friday, June 15th 2012 - 06:17 UTC

  Colombia passes law that could pave the way for peace talks with guerrillas

  

  Colombia's Congress on Thursday passed a law that could pave the way for peace talks with Marxist oriented guerrillas, raising hopes for an end to the war, but drawing criticism from human rights groups that say the law is too lenient toward rebel leaders.

• Thursday, June 14th 2012 - 11:26 UTC

  Rio+20 summit takes off in Brazil with optimism and many challenges

  

  The United Nations conference on Sustainable Development opened in Brazil on Wednesday, launching a new round of debate on the future of the planet, its resources and people, 20 years after the first Earth Summit.

• Thursday, June 14th 2012 - 11:19 UTC

  Indian delegation after investments and technology cooperation with Brazil

  

  India has invited companies from Brazil to invest in the country’s national infrastructure, manufacturing in Special Economic Zones and the food processing sector.

• Thursday, June 14th 2012 - 10:43 UTC

  University Rankings: Brazilian dominance points to future economic might

  

  By Danny Byrne, Editor of TopUniversities.com - Universities throughout Latin America are in a period of transition. Though precise circumstances vary by country, factors such as the growth in scientific research, massification of social demand for higher education, increased student mobility and the rise of private universities have exerted an influence across the region.

• Thursday, June 14th 2012 - 10:21 UTC

  Brazil has 65 of the top 250 universities in Latam, with Sao Paulo top ranked

  

  Brazil dominates the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Latin American University Rankings for the second year, with 65 institutions in the top 250, led by the Universidad de Sao Paulo.

• Tuesday, June 12th 2012 - 23:02 UTC

  Unasur new Secretary General promises to work for energy integration and reduce poverty

  

  Venezuela has taken the Unasur secretary general post from Colombia during a ceremony last Monday held in Bogotá with the attendance of Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos and his Paraguayan counterpart Fernando Lugo.

• Tuesday, June 12th 2012 - 19:42 UTC

  The Pacific Alliance, yet another bloc in Latin America

  

  The newly-formed Pacific Alliance bloc seems more like a political club to counterbalance the Atlantic-facing, Brazil-led Mercosur group. However, the bloc accounts for 30% of India’s trade with Latin America. Can India engage the group so it is not left out from their Asia focus?