Latin America

• Saturday, November 16th 2013 - 06:54 UTC

  Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon increased by a third over the past year

  

  Deforestation in the Amazon increased by nearly a third over the past year, according to Brazilian government figures released this week, confirming a feared reversal in what had been steady progress over the past decade against destruction of the world's largest rainforest.

• Friday, November 15th 2013 - 16:27 UTC

  The anonymous millions of dollars spent in Chilean campaign donations

  

  It will come as no surprise to Chileans that some of the country’s biggest companies — and richest families — have donated millions of dollars to presidential and parliamentary campaigns this election season. However, until an investigative report was published last week, people were only able to speculate on the matter, as a law passed in 2003 allows donors and donations to remain completely anonymous.

• Thursday, November 14th 2013 - 19:58 UTC

  UK becomes observer of the Pacific Alliance, announces Chilean foreign minister

  

  Chilean Foreign Affairs Minister Alfredo Moreno has said that the UK has been granted Observer Status of the Pacific Alliance. The announcement was made by Moreno during his recent visit to Europe. The Pacific Alliance is made up of Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico and is consolidating as the fastest growing group in the region.

• Thursday, November 14th 2013 - 18:30 UTC

  Business climate in Latam receives 'unfavorable' assessment from Brazil's leading foundation

  

  The business climate (ICE) in Uruguay was down in the third quarter of the year, which means the country dropped from position 5 to 7 in the ranking of the eleven economies contemplated in the index elaborated by the Brazilian Getulio Vargas Foundation and Germany's respected IFO.

• Thursday, November 14th 2013 - 07:38 UTC

  IMF to review Argentina's 'new' stats on inflation and GDP, next 9 December

  

  The International Monetary Fund said Wednesday it will review Argentina's progress on improving its economic statistics in December, after censuring the country last February for supplying poor data.

• Thursday, November 14th 2013 - 04:21 UTC

  “Cristina Fernandez will resume and complete her mandate”, despite fragile health

  

  Argentine president Cristina Fernandez “will resume her duties and complete the four years of her mandate”, there is coincidence on this among incumbents and opposition, even when the leader's health remains delicate, according to Argentine political analyst Nelson Castro.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 19:30 UTC

  Latin America the most insecure region in the world suffers 'epidemic of violence'

  

  Despite a decade of economic growth, Latin America is the most insecure region in the world, and an increase in crime on the continent has led to “an epidemic of violence” that is affecting growth, according to a report released by the UN Development Program. One in three Latin Americans reported being a victim of a violent crime in 2012, with the majority of the attacks being mainly robberies.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 18:52 UTC

  Latin America's English proficiency ‘very low’

  

  Despite a strong economy attracting new international business and increasing the need for multilingual professionals in the workforce, Chile remains one of the countries with the lowest levels of competency in English among adults worldwide, according to a study released Friday.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:49 UTC

  Paraguay normalizes relations with Venezuela and Brazil; Bolivia next

  

  The new Paraguayan government of President Horacio Cartes is rapidly formalizing relations with its Mercosur partners. On Tuesday the ambassador that will represent the country in Venezuela, Enrique Jara took the oath of office, which in fact means full normalization of relations with the country ruled by Nicolas Maduro.The ceremony at Government House in Asunción was headed by President Cartes and cabinet members.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:27 UTC

  Foreign Office analyzes OAS initiative on drugs policy: fears some Latam countries may dump coercive policies

  

  The OAS’s June 2013 paper on the drugs problem in the Americas responded to a growing debate in Latin America and has been seen as groundbreaking. Its underlying message is that current approaches to drugs are not working and that change is needed. But there is no common view in the region on the way forward, according to a paper from the Foreign Office.