Politics

Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:23 UTC
Argentines keep travelling overseas despite the ‘dollar clamp’ and the ‘Coca Cola formula’

Despite the ‘dollar clamp’ and other obstacles to purchase the US currency in Argentina, the number of Argentines travelling abroad increased by 8% last March in comparison to the same period the year before although they spent 6.2% less than in 2012, it was reported by the National Statistics Bureau (INDEC).
Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:19 UTC
Uruguay’s inflation in April eased for third month running, but remains above target

Inflation in Uruguay during April slowed down for third month running, according to the latest release from the country’s Statistics Office, INE. Consumer prices in the fourth month of the year climbed 0.45% with inflation in the last twelve months reaching 8.14%, compare to 8.54% in March.
Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 09:15 UTC
Chilean court finds naval officers guilty of abduction of Anglo-Chilean priest

Chilean court has found two ex-navy officers guilty of the abduction of Anglo-Chilean priest Michael Woodward. The left-wing priest disappeared shortly after the coup that brought Gen Augusto Pinochet to power in 1973 and his body has never been found.
Wednesday, May 8th 2013 - 02:44 UTC
Dollar in Argentina breaks 10 Pesos barrier, despite Cristina Fernandez and her “I want to leave” minister

The ‘blue’ or parallel dollar in Argentina beat a new record on Tuesday by breaking the 10 Pesos milestone and ending trading at 10.08 Pesos. The official rate meantime remained relatively stable and closed at 5.16 and 5.21 Pesos (buying and selling price).
Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 09:28 UTC
IMF again warns Argentina about protectionist and foreign currency exchange policies

The International Monetary Fund Director for the Western Hemisphere, Alejandro Werner, warned on Monday about the “negative effect” that the existence of two foreign currency exchange markets and protectionist policies bring to Argentina.
Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 09:11 UTC
Winning design to replace Brazil’s destroyed Antarctic base was presented in Rio

The Brazilian Navy announced in Rio the winning proposal for the new Antarctic research base Comandante Ferraz which in February last year was destroyed by fire with the loss of two lives and damages in excess of 12 million dollars.
Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 09:00 UTC
Rousseff creates ministry for small businesses and announces soft loans

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff announced on Monday a reduction in the interest rate on public loans for owners of small businesses from 8% to 5% and inaugurated the Secretariat for Micro and Small Businesses which will have the category of a ministry.
Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 08:54 UTC
Cuban doctors to Brazil hinterland in exchange for infrastructure works

Brazil said Monday it was negotiating with Havana the possibility of hiring and bringing in around 6,000 Cuban doctors to work in areas where they are needed in the fifth largest country of the world and with a population of 200 million.
Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 08:42 UTC
Falklands/South Georgia dispute placed by Argentina under the CCALMR umbrella

The Buenos Aires media is reporting a potential incident situation in South Georgia waters which could erupt into something more complicated from the moment the Argentine research vessel ‘Eduardo Holmberg’ has been involved in scientific activities in a zone which last year was declared by the UK as a Maritime Protected Area, MPA, and which Argentina does not recognize since it considers it ‘an area in dispute’.
Tuesday, May 7th 2013 - 05:49 UTC
Cristina Fernandez pledges ‘no Peso devaluation’, but markets are not convinced

In a clear signal to the markets, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner strongly rejected on Monday a possible devaluation of the Argentine Peso and targeted sectors advocating for such a measure, as she warned that “those hoping to profit from it will have to wait for a different Government.”