Latin America

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 05:05 UTC

  Mujica promises to “fight to the death” for the future of Mercosur

  

  Uruguayan president Jose Mujica promised on Monday to ‘fight to the death’ for the future of Mercosur in spite of the fact that the group’s junior members Uruguay and Paraguay are suffering the most as Argentina and Brazil implement growing hurdles to trade.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 05:02 UTC

  WB backs selective use of capital controls when faced with massive inflows

  

  The World Bank’s new Latin America chief backed selective use of capital controls when inflows were creating asset bubbles or distorting foreign exchange markets. Hasan Tuluy, the Bank’s new vice-president for Latin America and the Caribbean, said while trade protectionism should be avoided, there was space for macro prudential measures.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 04:55 UTC

  Brazil is fastest growing travel and tourism economy in Latam; 7.8% in 2012

  

  Brazil is Latin America’s fastest-growing travel and tourism economy and direct contribution to GDP is forecast to grow at 7.8% in 2012.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 04:51 UTC

  Peru cancels HMS Montrose visit in support of Argentina’s Falklands claim

  

  In a display of “Latin American support for Argentina’s legitimate rights,” the Peruvian government announced on Monday its decision to render void the protocol visit of a British frigate scheduled to dock in a Peruvian port this week.

• Tuesday, March 20th 2012 - 00:24 UTC

  Colombia tells Bolivia it deserves to have access to the Pacific Ocean

  

  Colombia has consistently supported Bolivia in its mission to reclaim a passage to the Pacific Ocean and the country reiterated its support last week during a meeting between the two heads of state in Bogotá.

• 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.