Latin Free Markets Rule as Pacific Ocean Nations Beat Atlantic
ARGENTINA
Argentina Leaves Singer for Last in Preparing Bond Market Return
After a 20-hour meeting with officials from the Paris-based group of creditor nations, which kept President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner awake until 2 a.m., Argentina said yesterday that it agreed to pay $9.7 billion over five years to settle claims stretching back to the government’s record $95 billion default in 2001. South America’s second-biggest economy hasn’t issued bonds in international markets since it stopped payments.
Solving the remaining dispute with holdout creditors including billionaire Paul Singer’s Elliott Management Corp. is becoming more urgent with foreign-exchange reserves stuck near an eight-year low. Argentina needs the money to fund investment, defend its currency and make payments on restructured bonds, while any proceeds from a U.S. bond sale could be seized by creditors backed by court orders saying they’re owed billions.
BRAZIL
Video (starts right away): Staying safe at the World Cup in Brazil
Health and safety fears are growing as foreign fans prepare to travel to Brazil with worries of crime, disease, policing and fake medicines
Nao Vai Ter Copa has become a national rallying cry. There Will Be No World Cup.
COLOMBIA
García Márquez’s Blind Spot
CUBA
Two Generations Lost to Communism
The Castros in Their Labyrinth
ECUADOR
No Messiah Please, We’re Ecuadorian
MEXICO
Marine jailed in Mexico recounts harrowing attempt to escape from prison
PANAMA
Commercial shipping lanes changed in Panama to save humpback whales
PARAGUAY
World’s Happiest Country? Would You Believe Paraguay?
PERU
Spanish company to upgrade Peru refinery in $3.5 bn deal
PUERTO RICO
In Puerto Rico, Cocaine Gains Access to U.S
VENEZUELA
Tick-tock, on Relojes del Chavismo
The week’s posts and podcast:
Ecuador’s looking for a few good extras
Colombia: Zuluaga change of heart?
Mexico: PRD lobbying Washington
Venezuela: US to sanction chavistas
Cuba: Why is the US Chamber of Commerce chief visiting?
Brazil: World Cup blues UPDATED
En español: Terapia intensiva #209
Venezuela: 9.8% in extreme poverty
Venezuela: Wives of jailed mayors win
At Da Tech Guy Blog:
Venezuela: Bi-partisan US Congress approves sanctions bill
Colombia: What the FARC really want
Podcast:
Elections in Colombia PLUS other US-Latin America stories of the week