Latin America

• Monday, August 22nd 2011 - 06:55 UTC

  Uruguay and Colombia have best ‘business climate’ in Latin America

  

  Business climate remained stable in Latin America during the second quarter of the year in spite of signs of the incipient global financial crisis, according to the Brazilian Foundation and think-tank Getulio Vargas. Uruguay and Colombia led the pack of the most pro-business countries in the region.

• Saturday, August 20th 2011 - 06:52 UTC

  Latam markets follow world trend but fall less than the US and EU

  

  Latin American stocks fell on Friday as deepening fears of a US recession and a wider financial crisis that could result from Europe's debt troubles kept investors cautious.

• Saturday, August 20th 2011 - 06:43 UTC

  Peru halts coca plants eradication and works to redesign new anti-drugs program

  

  Peru has temporarily halted the eradication of coca plants used to make cocaine as it works to redesign its anti-drug programs, the country's interior ministry announced this week.

• Saturday, August 20th 2011 - 06:37 UTC

  Feisty Uruguay wins respect from neighbours and investors

  

  The following feature piece from Reuters written by Hillary Burke and Malena Castaldi gives an idea of Uruguay’s international standing.

• Friday, August 19th 2011 - 10:31 UTC

  In spite of freezing climate, 100.000 Chileans march for education reform

  

  Thousands marched down Santiago’s Alameda thoroughfare on Thursday, calling once more for sweeping reforms to Chile’s public education system. The march began around 10:30 when 4,000 demonstrators gathered at the downtown corner of San Martin and Alameda, then continued westward down Alameda past the Los Héroes subway stop.

• Friday, August 19th 2011 - 10:16 UTC

  US reviews deportation policy involving 300.000 illegal immigrants

  

  US President Obama administration said Thursday it would postpone the deportation of illegal immigrants without criminal records and allow them to apply for work permits as it reviews over 300.000 cases.

• Friday, August 19th 2011 - 09:51 UTC

  Colombia in full sync with Cristina, says visiting Colombian president

  

  Colombia “fully identifies with the government of Cristina (Fernandez de Kirchner)” because it shares democratic values and welfare and development objectives, said President Juan Manuel Santos the first Colombian leader on an official visit to Argentina for over a decade.

• Friday, August 19th 2011 - 09:45 UTC

  Pinochet’s regime official victims’ list increased by 9.800 to 40.018

  

  Chile officially recognized 9,800 more victims of its dictatorship on Thursday, increasing the total number of people killed, tortured or imprisoned for political reasons to 40,018.

• Friday, August 19th 2011 - 09:38 UTC

  Chilean central bank ends hike cycle early and keeps key rate unchanged

  

  The Chilean central bank held its benchmark rate steady at 5.25% on Thursday for a second month running as inflation expectations ease and the global outlook darkens, boosting bets it has ended its rate hike cycle early.

• Friday, August 19th 2011 - 02:05 UTC

  Fears of recession plunge world markets; Latam losses less that in US and EU

  

  Stock markets across Latin America, led by regional heavyweight Brazil, fell sharply Thursday as recession fears sent global markets down. Meanwhile the spot price of gold hit yet another record high of just below 1.829 dollars an ounce.