The level of “informality” rises during Carnival. 

In Venezuela increasing fuel prices is “almost a taboo,” especially after a 1989 fuel price increase was one of the triggers of the “Caracazo,” as the “bloody social explosion” was known. 

Peru asked Argentine energy company Pluspetrol to leave a restive Amazonian town in a natural gas block to calm tensions after protests against the company this week left one dead and dozens injured. 

A group of experts led by Nobel Prize laureate Joseph Stiglitz is in favor of a new system to address sovereign debt.  Stiglitz criticized the judgments against Argentina in the United States’ courts. 

Pirates preying on fishermen in the Gulf of Fonseca are becoming more and more of a threat. 

After being included in the gray list of FATF, the Panama is said to be prone to money laundering. 

The collapse of oil prices will likely have positive effects on the global economy, accelerating growth.  Yet in the region there will be losers, as well as winners as the price of oil sinks. 

Stormy economic weather in Argentina and Brazil, which account for 70% of total passengers, is the leading factor behind the fall in cruise revenues.  Economists debate the options for dealing with the Vultures. 

Biodiversity could be the “linchpin” of Colombian technological development while Costa Rica stands out as the best destination in the Americas for service outsourcing. 

It is hoped that the new director of Governance, Risk and Compliance will help renew confidence in Petrobras, though the World Band has it doubts.