Latin America

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 23:28 UTC

  China and IADB agree on one billion investment fund; warnings from Brazil

  

  China and the Inter-American Development Bank said on Monday they are starting a 1-billion US dollars fund to invest in Latin America, though the Asian giant’s latest push to expand its influence in the region prompted words of caution from Brazil.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 23:02 UTC

  Cuba releases “Ladies in White”; tells them to keep away from Pope’s activities

  

  Cuba released 70 members of the dissident Ladies in White group detained during the weekend but warned them not to attend activities related to next week's visit of Pope Benedict, the group's leader said.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 15:36 UTC

  Latam risks in 2012: commodities’ prices, China and European banks

  

  The economy of Latin America and the Caribbean should grow 3.6% this year, down from recent rates above 5% as slower expansion in China, a soft recovery in the US and debt woes in Europe weigh on the global economy.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 14:52 UTC

  Cuba detains Ladies in White ahead of the visit by Pope Benedict XVI

  

  Cuban authorities detained on Sunday about 70 members of the dissident group Ladies in White, drawing fresh attention to human rights issues days ahead of a visit by Pope Bendict XVI.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 07:01 UTC

  Rousseff expected at the White House but with no ‘state visit’ privilege

  

  Next April 9 Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is expected in the White House and although formally relations are ‘excellent’, Brazil and the US have many dissenting issues, according to Andres Oppenheimer from the Miami Herald and considered an expert in Latin American affairs from the US perspective.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:57 UTC

  Moody’s confirms Uruguay closer to investment grade rating based on debt management

  

  Uruguay is likely to be the next Latin American country to win an investment grade rating from Moody's Investors Service, with a review likely late this year, a senior officer from the ratings agency said on Sunday.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:51 UTC

  Uruguay strongly advocates for “free and fluid trade” in Unasur meeting

  

  Uruguay’s Economy minister Fernando Lorenzo called on other members of Unasur, Union of South American Nations, to ensure free trade in the region as a safeguard and guarantee for the sustained growth of country-members in time.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:37 UTC

  Funds from Santiago to put Punta Arenas back on its feet, and loans to small businesses

  

  Chilean Minister of Economy Pablo Longueira announced on Sunday that Punta Arenas in the extreme south of the country which recently suffered a barrage of flash floods will be declared “catastrophe zone”.

• Monday, March 19th 2012 - 06:34 UTC

  Bocaranda, the gossip columnist who keeps Venezuela informed on Hugo Chavez

  

  Some Venezuelans cannot get enough of Nelson Bocaranda, a mild-mannered radio reporter and gossip columnist who has been dishing up inside information on President Hugo Chavez’s cancer.

• Sunday, March 18th 2012 - 19:55 UTC

  “The Argentine government doesn’t understand what is going on” says former official

  

  Former Argentine Cabinet Chief Alberto Fernández assured on Sunday today that “the Government has difficulties understanding what is going on, and gives fallacious speeches that are far from reality,” and blasted the cutback of subsidies on public services and the bill that seeks to reform the Central Bank's charter