Latin America

• 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.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 06:24 UTC

  Guyana terms “illegal” and “spurious” Venezuela's claim over the Esequibo

  

  Guyana's Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett termed “illegal” and “spurious” Venezuela's claim over Essequibo, which is equivalent to a third of the former British colony territory.

• Wednesday, November 13th 2013 - 00:16 UTC

  Uruguay sends bill to parliament banning ownership of land by foreign companies or governments

  

  The Uruguayan government sent a draft law to parliament Tuesday that would ban the ownership of land by companies if they are in any way linked to foreign countries. The measure states it “aims to avoid the risk of foreign states breaching the sovereignty of the Uruguayan state in the absence of appropriate regulations and occupying a significant position in agricultural activity.”

• Tuesday, November 12th 2013 - 23:54 UTC

  Brazil and Peru seal strong integration and cooperation alliance

  

  Peruvian President Ollanta Humala and Brazil's Dilma Rousseff agreed on Monday to promote regional integration and trade as they marked the 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic alliance. Rousseff arrived Monday in Lima on her fourth visit to Peru since Humala took power.

• Tuesday, November 12th 2013 - 08:14 UTC

  Maduro promises more price controls while bargain hunters empty appliance stores

  

  Venezuelans stood in lines outside appliance stores for a fourth day on Monday after President Nicolas Maduro deployed the army to force retailers to slash prices. After taking control of several appliance stores last week, Maduro vowed late Sunday to step up inspections of businesses selling shoes, clothes, automobiles and other goods to make sure they aren’t gouging consumers.

• Tuesday, November 12th 2013 - 08:10 UTC

  Lagarde praises Argentina's 'positive progress' in reforming economic data quality

  

  Argentina has made “positive progress” in reforming the quality of its economic data, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Sunday, adding that the IMF's board is set to review the country's moves in a few days.