Latin America

• Thursday, November 8th 2012 - 01:53 UTC

  Brazil expands investmetns and builds closer economic ties in Africa

  

  Brazilian companies are moving into Africa amid a government drive to build closer economic ties with the continent. A year ago Vale, the Brazilian mining giant, exported its first overseas coal shipment from Mozambique.

• Thursday, November 8th 2012 - 01:45 UTC

  Majority of Puerto Rico voters, 54%, favour becoming a full US state

  

  Voters in Puerto Rico have supported a non-binding referendum to become a full US state. The measure will require approval from the US Congress, but President Barack Obama has said he will respect the vote.

• Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 22:22 UTC

  “Crystal Serenity” licensed to operate a casino while in Chilean waters

  

  “Crystal Serenity” became the first cruise vessel licensed to operate and exploit casinos in Chilean waters, reported this week the country’s Casino Games Commission, SCJ. However the ruling also points out that the company authorized to operate the on board casinos must suspend gambling during docking and departure and while sailing inside the three miles.

• Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 22:06 UTC

  Return of Colombia ambassador, expected to break Unasur exclusion of Paraguay

  

  Colombian ambassador Jorge Barrantes will be returning to his post in Asunción this weekend, the first Unasur country member to do so, according to Paraguayan Foreign minister Jose Fernandez Estigarribia. Chile is also expected to adopt a similar decision in the near future.

• Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 04:39 UTC

  Opening the Falklands to Latin America; the testimony of a Guatemala journalist

  

  Luis Alberto Velasquez is a journalist with the Guatemalan newspaper La Prensa Libre and recently visited the Falkland Islands with a group of journalists from Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. In the guest post below Luis Alberto shares some thoughts about his recent trip.

• Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 04:34 UTC

  Ex Mexican finance minister named IMF Western Hemisphere director

  

  Mexican economist Alejandro Werner was named on Tuesday to the position of IMF Director, Western Hemisphere Department. His appointment will become effective early in January 2013. Mr. Werner succeeds Mr. Nicolas Eyzáguirre, who resigned effective July 26, 2012.

• Wednesday, November 7th 2012 - 04:27 UTC

  Soy crop prospects fin South America down: Argentina excessive water, in Brazil lack of rain

  

  South America’s crop prospects deteriorated because of excessive rainfall in Argentina and dry conditions in central Brazil, according to Oil World. Argentina’s estimated 55/56 million tons soybean crop could drop anywhere from 3 6o 6 million tons because of delays in sowing caused by torrential rains and flooding.

• Tuesday, November 6th 2012 - 18:22 UTC

  Uruguay confirms in Argentina incentives for arriving tourists this summer season

  

  The Uruguayan government confirmed on Monday a raft of measures to attract Argentine tourists and compensate the restrictions in Argentina to purchase foreign currency (dollar-clamp) and the 15% retention fund for credit or debit cards operations outside the country.

• Tuesday, November 6th 2012 - 06:59 UTC

  Mujica after in-depth discussion on ‘a real integration of Mercosur” with Chavez

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica has plans to meet two, probably three times before the end of the year with his peer from Venezuela, Hugo Chavez to address “a real integration” of Mercosur, not limited to trade, but at the same time admitting that Venezuela is rapidly becoming one of the main markets for Uruguayan exports.

• Tuesday, November 6th 2012 - 06:56 UTC

  G20 adopts soft approach on deficits fearing risks of worsening the slowdown

  

  The world's leading economies gave themselves a bit more space on Monday to meet targets for cutting budget deficits rather than risk worsening a slowdown in many countries, chief among them the United States.