Latin America

Thursday, August 9th 2012 - 06:33 UTC
Venezuela inflation slows down for seventh month running: 19.4% in last 12 months

Venezuela's annual inflation slowed for a seventh straight month in July, coming in below 20% for the first time in years. Finance Minister Jorge Giordani said annual inflation to July was 19.4% percent, below the 20 to 22% estimated in the government's budget for this year.
Thursday, August 9th 2012 - 06:29 UTC
Venezuelan currency overvalued by 83% according to the Big Mac index

The Big Mac index computed by The Economist showed that the Venezuelan Bolivar is the most overvalued currency worldwide with respect to the US dollar, reflecting the imbalance of the Venezuelan economy.
Thursday, August 9th 2012 - 06:18 UTC
Seventeen nations in military exercise for the protection of the Panama Canal

This year’s PANAMAX exercise kicked off on Monday involving representatives from 17 hemispheric countries with the purpose of practicing methods of protecting the safe passage of commercial traffic through the Panama Canal while ensuring its neutrality and respecting national sovereignty.
Wednesday, August 8th 2012 - 18:21 UTC
Paraguay to appeal Mercosur sanctions before the The Hague Court of Justice

The Paraguayan government had decided to appeal before the International Court of Justice in The Hague the suspension imposed on Paraguay by the governments of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay as a sanction for the removal of Fernando Lugo as president of the country, last June 22.
Wednesday, August 8th 2012 - 18:16 UTC
Panama Canal unveils new tolls structure and increases some categories

Following the recommendation from the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), the Panamanian government approved this week the proposal to restructure the Panama Canal's pricing system.
Wednesday, August 8th 2012 - 07:12 UTC
Unasur special committee presents this week report on Paraguay’s political situation

The special Unasur commission that is monitoring and following political events in Paraguay since the removal of Fernando Lugo as president and his replacement by Federico Franco, is expected to make a first presentation next Thursday said Peruvian Foreign affairs minister Rafael Roncagliolo.
Wednesday, August 8th 2012 - 06:51 UTC
Chile announces plan to improve living conditions of the indigenous Mapuche peoples

In a special cabinet meeting last Friday, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera proposed a series of measures aimed at improving infrastructure and human investment in the south-central Araucanía region.
Tuesday, August 7th 2012 - 15:24 UTC
Norwegian organization to help with demining in the Chile-Peru border

Chilean and Peruvian authorities meet Friday in Lima with the humanitarian organization Norwegian People’s Aid which will be responsible for the demining of the two countries border area, announced Peruvian Foreign minister Rafael Roncaglio.
Tuesday, August 7th 2012 - 08:33 UTC
Uruguay reacts with silence to repeated Argentine provocations

The Uruguayan government said on Monday there will be no public statements on the latest “situations” with Argentina, and Uruguay will keep to what was agreed at presidential level during the last (31 July) Mercosur extraordinary meeting in Brasilia.
Monday, August 6th 2012 - 23:24 UTC
Poor ranking for Uruguay’s main university; Brazil and Chile top of Latam list

Uruguay’s government-financed national university came up in position 79 in the QS academic quality international ranking of the top 100 Latinamerican universities. Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia were far better ranked than Uruguay’s Universidad de la Republica, Udelar, which has caused deep concern among government officials.