Uruguay

• Friday, April 4th 2014 - 04:35 UTC

  Uruguayan government feels it can tame inflation based on March's index

  

  Inflation in Uruguay during March reached 0.58% accumulating 4.74% in the first quarter and 9.73% in the last twelve months, which is seen as 'positive' and an indication that recent measures to contain prices are 'being successful', according to Economy minister Mario Bergara.

• Friday, April 4th 2014 - 04:20 UTC

  FIFA confirms Uruguay will be in the World Cup despite domestic football problems

  

  Uruguay's Football Association (AUF) has been suspended by South American soccer body CONMEBOL, a move the AUF said did not affect the national team's participation at the World Cup. The announcement Uruguay would be in Brazil was confirmed by statements from FIFA president Joseph Blatter from Costa Rica.

• Tuesday, April 1st 2014 - 03:45 UTC

  Conflict with government over violence in Uruguayan football could have FIFA consequences

  

  Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) president Sebastián Bauza and the entire body's board of directors have tendered their resignations, as a fierce conflict sparked by President José Mujica's decision to remove police officers from the country's two most popular teams' matches (Peñarol and Nacional) generally marred by violence and destruction.

• Monday, March 31st 2014 - 19:42 UTC

  Uruguay and Peru in line for a possible upgrading, according to Moody's

  

  Uruguay and Peru are the first Latin American countries in line for a possible credit rating hike by Moody's Investors Service, at a moment when sovereign upgrades are expected to become more scarce in the region, a senior analyst with the ratings firm said.

• Friday, March 21st 2014 - 01:20 UTC

  Mujica confirms Uruguay will accept Guantanamo prisoners as 'refugees'

  

  President Jose Mujica confirmed that Uruguay has agreed with the United States to accept some prisoners held in the much-criticized detention center at the US military base of Guantanamo Bay, but he also cautioned that “everything has a bill”.

• Wednesday, March 19th 2014 - 07:30 UTC

  A Vazquez victory forecasted in Uruguay but with 'orthodox economics' threatened

  

  The Economist Intelligence Unit anticipates a 2015 scenario in which Tabaré Vazquez from the ruling coalition will most probably be president, but in a situation quite different from that of his first mandate (2005/2010) if he insists in implementing orthodox economics.

• Wednesday, March 19th 2014 - 07:07 UTC

  Mercosur has been 'a good deal' for Uruguay, 'it could have been better'

  

  President Jose Mujica said that Mercosur even with all its problems “has been a good deal” although it “could have been better”, and it is imperative that the group signs trade agreements with Europe and China, which has become the main trade partner of the region.

• Tuesday, March 18th 2014 - 06:41 UTC

  Unasur delegation begins dialogue-contacts next week to help with Venezuelan situation

  

  Uruguayan foreign minister Luis Almagro confirmed that next week a delegation from Unasur (Union of South American Nations) will be ready to sponsor dialogue and help de-compress the situation in Venezuela as was agreed at the recent foreign ministers meeting held in Santiago de Chile when the inauguration of president Michelle Bachelet.

• Saturday, March 15th 2014 - 08:25 UTC

  Despite inflation Astori argues that cutting government spending is not the solution

  

  It is a mistake to blame government expenditure for the increase of prices, as is the concept that inflation can be defeated by cutting government spending, said Uruguayan Vice-president and economist Danilo Astori, who argued that in many cases these funds are essential to finance public investments and social policies.

• Saturday, March 15th 2014 - 08:13 UTC

  Uruguay combats inflation with price agreements and reducing taxes on public utilities rates

  

  The Uruguayan government finalized on Friday a prices agreement with commerce and trade organizations to help bring down the third highest inflation of the region which is advancing at an almost two-digit pace. The package is to be completed with government fiscal 'sacrifice' such as the elimination of taxes on some public utilities rates.