Latin America

• Friday, February 20th 2015 - 00:23 UTC

  Uruguay's minister Almagro presents his program for a renewed OAS

  

  The Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) received a presentation by Uruguay's foreign minister Luis Almagro, in his capacity as candidate for Secretary General of the Organization, in a special meeting that took place at the headquarters of the OAS in Washington DC.

• Thursday, February 19th 2015 - 05:57 UTC

  Colombia's Ecopetrol slashes offshore exploration budget

  

  Colombia's state-run oil producer Ecopetrol will drill three offshore wells this year, two off its Caribbean Coast and a third in the Gulf of Mexico, after slashing its offshore exploration budget to 200 million dollars down from 632 million last year, the company said.

• Wednesday, February 18th 2015 - 23:06 UTC

  OAS Secretary General hopeful meets with Insulza and Permanent Council chair Badrising

  

  The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, met on Wednesday with the only current candidate to succeed him in office, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, Luis Almagro, at the headquarters of the Organization in Washington, DC.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2015 - 19:24 UTC

  Mercosur intra-zone trade continues to slide; represents 14% for the block

  

  Trade among Mercosur partners contracted 12.3% during the third quarter of last year in annual terms, despite the fact overall trade of its members increased and despite the greater integration commitment of the group's original charter, points out the Argentine Chamber of Commerce

• Tuesday, February 17th 2015 - 06:00 UTC

  Caribbean is anticipating 5% increase in tourist arrivals after a record 2014

  

  The Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization, CTO, is projecting a 5% increase in tourist arrivals in 2015 after the region recorded its best year ever in 2014. CTO Secretary General Hugh Riley told reporters a record 26.3 million visitors came to the Caribbean last year, spending a record US$29.2 billion.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2015 - 05:40 UTC

  Peru asks Argentine oil company to leave conflict zone while it reassesses contract

  

  Peru will evaluate a natural gas contract it signed with Pluspetrol in 2005 and is asking the Argentine company to leave a restive Amazonian town following deadly protests, the government said on Thursday. Pluspetrol started exploratory activities in natural gas block 108 last year, upsetting locals in the town of Pichanaki who fear it will lead to pollution and hurt farming.

• Monday, February 16th 2015 - 09:06 UTC

  Researchers propose high seas fishing ban and concentrate on coastal catches

  

  Closing the high seas to commercial fishing could distribute fisheries income more equitably among the world's maritime nations, according to research from the University of British Columbia (UBC).

• Monday, February 16th 2015 - 08:51 UTC

  Germany urges Brazil with an EU/Mercosur trade agreement

  

  Germany wants to speed negotiations for a free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, said Foreign minister Walter Steinmeier in Brasilia. The agreement has been pending since 1999 when discussions started but so far have been unable to reach a deal or commit a date because of internal problems from both sides.

• Thursday, February 12th 2015 - 20:57 UTC

  Argentina and Brazil admit trade disagreements between Mercosur main partners

  

  Argentina and Brazil failed to reach an agreement to help unlock the ongoing tension between the two key Mercosur allies over bilateral trade. Argentina's Hector Timerman and his counterpart Mauro Vieira met in Buenos Aires to try and ease Brazil’s growing concerns about restrictions on the flow of goods, but any decisions were pushed forward to an undetermined date.

• Wednesday, February 11th 2015 - 06:29 UTC

  Netflix offers internet video service in Havana, but very few Cubans can afford 8 dollars

  

  Netflix began selling its Internet video service in Cuba on Monday in what appears to be a largely symbolic move driven by the recent loosening of US restrictions on doing business with the Communist-run Island.