Latin America

Friday, January 25th 2013 - 04:16 UTC
ECLAC underlines significance of EU investments in the region: 500bn in a decade

The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena called for “a more symmetrical, balanced and equitable relationship with Europe” during the first CELAC/EU academic summit in Santiago de Chile.
Friday, January 25th 2013 - 04:10 UTC
EU and Brazil agree on a “speedy conclusion” of the trade pact with Mercosur

Brazilian and European leaders called on Thursday for the speedy conclusion of a free trade and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Mercosur. The call for action was made as Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff hosted European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
Thursday, January 24th 2013 - 08:08 UTC
Ashton praises Peru for its inclusion policy and fighting child malnutrition

The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, highlighted the “important role that Peru is playing in the Latinamerican region,” assuring that Peru will participate “very constructively” in the EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit, in Santiago de Chile, on 26-27 January.
Thursday, January 24th 2013 - 05:58 UTC
LatinFocus forecasts regional GDP to expand 3.7% and average inflation 6.6%

LatinFocus Consensus Forecast panellists expect regional GDP to expand 3.7% this year, following an estimated 2.9% increase recorded in 2012. The stable figure reflects rosier prospects for Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela, which were offset by downward revisions to Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay.
Thursday, January 24th 2013 - 01:14 UTC
Brazilian industry claims Mercosur is ‘paralyzed’ and blasts Argentina’s ‘illegal barriers’ on trade

Brazil’s powerful manufacturers’ lobby openly criticized the “illegal barriers” imposed by the government of President Cristina Fernandez on Brazilian produce, and also lashed at President Dilma Rousseff for her administration’s “permissive attitude” towards Buenos Aires, a position that has “paralyzed Mercosur”.
Thursday, January 24th 2013 - 00:25 UTC
For Santander bank, “Brazil is the most important country in the world”

Banco Santander chairman Emilio Botin denied this week that he is selling his company’s assets in Brazil and said his bank is only interested in “buying” in Latinamerica’s leading economy.
Wednesday, January 23rd 2013 - 23:58 UTC
EU wooing Latinamerica that is focused on China, now its leading trade partner

Several European leaders among which the president of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and the head of EU diplomacy Catherine Ashton are touring several Latinamerican countries with the purpose of strengthening relations with a region in full development but which lately has been increasingly focused on China.
Wednesday, January 23rd 2013 - 09:27 UTC
Climate change devouring Andean glaciers and source of fresh water for millions

Climate change has shrunk Andean glaciers between 30% and 50% since the 1970s and could melt many of them away altogether in coming years, according to a study published on Tuesday in the journal Cryosphere.
Wednesday, January 23rd 2013 - 08:24 UTC
Piñera prepared to grant constitutional recognition to Chile’s indigenous groups

Chilean President Sebastian Piñera pledged to work with “maximum urgency” on a bill that would grant constitutional recognition to the country's indigenous groups. Piñera also announced the creation of an indigenous peoples' council that fully represents “their history, traditions, culture” and via which “they could raise their strong and clear voice about their future.”
Tuesday, January 22nd 2013 - 20:52 UTC
HMS Protector rescues cruise liner at risk of becoming trapped in Antarctica ice

A Norwegian cruise liner at risk of becoming trapped in thick ice off the coast of Antarctica was guided to safety by the Royal Navy in a two-hour operation, an incident which occurred a week ago and has only emerged.