Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian national team went up four positions, but it's is still the last one in South America, according to the last ranking of soccer national teams in November, expressed by FIFA.

Peru is located at position 70 with 467 points, while Bolivia, 9th in South America is at position 57 with 573 points.

The top three are now Spain (1622 points), Brazil (1592) and Netherlands (1279).

The other seven teams from ConMeBol in the FIFA ranking are Argentina (8th; 1875 points), Chile (17th; 926), Uruguay (19th, 901), Paraguay (30th; 916), Ecuador (35th; 750), Colombia (40th; 736) and Venezuela (50th; 546).

Last Wednesday Peru defeated 2-1 to Honduras in a friendly game played in Miami.

This was the last game in Jose Del Solar era as the Peruvian national team coach.

Honduras is one of the three teams representing CONCACAF at the finals in Soth Africa 2010.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The Strike Committee and the Frente de Defensa de Espinar (Front for Defense of the Interests of Espinar District) did not accept the proposal made by the Prime Minister Javier Velásquez Quesquén, and resumed their strike, announcing they will take more radical actions, breaking the truce they had agreed  upon.

The Espinar people do not agree with the projected usage of the waters of the Apurimac River in favor of draft-Siguas Majes II, so they are against the construction of the Angostura Dam, which (according to the villagers) would damage their water supply.

Apart from halting activities in the city, protesters are taking control of bridges, and currently more than 3,000 people are blocking the road Arequipa-Juliaca, according to La Republica.

According to Nestor Cuti, representative of the Frente de Defensa de Espinar, they are expecting that more than 15,000 people are to join the protests (which started on November 9th) today.

Cuti claims that the projected Angostura Dam would run the river dry, which is their only source of water for agricultural and for human consumption as well.

“At present we have water supply only two hours a day. If this  dam is built, we will not have water at all,” he said.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Before a massive audience made up of thousands of young Peruvian fans, and Ecuadorians and Bolivians, the American band “The Killers” performed last night at the Monumental Stadium in Ate (Lima).

The group, led by its lead vocalist and frontman Brandon Flowers, started the show with “Human,” from their latest album "Day and Age.”

However, instead of favoring the songs from this production, “The Killers” went through songs like "Hot Fuss" and "Sam's Town," which launched them to worldwide celebrity.

Towards the end of the concert the lead singer of the group took a Peruvian flag and sang “When you were young.” The thousands of "victims," (that's what the band calls their fans) answered with deafening cheers and applauses. The concert lasted for about an hour and a half, and packed 35,000 people at the venue.

The band expressed their satisfaction and said that they expect to return soon.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Housing Minister arrived in Ica along with the Deputy Minister David Ramos, and after hearing complaints from the villagers, he asked them "to be patient."

Representatives of the Federación de Pueblos Jóvenes (the Shanty Towns' Federation) were complaining about the slowness of construction after 2007 earthquake that hit Ica, Chincha and Pisco.

"The government has the willingness to help you, in the rebuilding of the zone, but there is not enough funding. Rebuilding cannot be done at once; it is a long process to be done in the best way," he said.

After talking briefly to the residents of the zone, Sarmiento Soto went to the district San José de los Molinos  to supervise works done on sewage systems and water supply.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Lambayeque region expects to export 2,500 tons of paprika, which are being harvested these days by Pomalca company, close to the town of Pampa Grande (district of Chongoyape).

The product will be exported to North America and and Europe, mainly to Mexico, Spain, the USA, Chile, Guatemala, and Poland.

The harvest started in early November and, according to estimates, will continue throughout all this month.

The field manager of the company, Jose Luis Holguin, added that the harvesting process creates jobs for 90 people, 80% of whom are women.

Some 7,000 hectares in the whole country are dedicated to the cultivation of paprika, especially in Lambayeque, Arequipa, Ica, Tacna and Piura.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Chilean Foreign Affairs Minister Mariano Fernandez released his government's official government version on the document submitted by Peru claiming  espionage activities.

According to the Peruvian report, the names mentioned in the aforementioned document would correspond to members of the Chilean Armed Forces who would allegedly have financed the espionage operations.

However, Fernandez said that “these names do not correspond to any Chilean citizens, so we have nothing to comment on this matter."

He also remarked that the government will respond to the espionage charges, “in due time," and remarked that the document delivered by Peru has only 300 pages, and not 2,000 as the press had reported.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvians won the final 3-2 to Venezuela in women's volleyball, while in men's volleyball, Peru defeated Ecuador 3-0.

Peruvian national women's volleyball team defeated 3-2 to Venezuela in the final at the Bolivarian Games at Sucre (Bolivia), and got the gold medal.

Peru won the game 15-25, 25-17, 25-13, 20-25 and 15-11 in two-hour's time at a crowded Jorge Revilla Aldana colesium in the city of Sucre, Bolivia.

Patricia Soto, member of the national team said to RPP radio that she feels proud of the prize, and that all the players are working hard looking forward the world tournament Japan 2010.

"I'm proud of my team. We did our best, with all the strength that represents our country," she added.

Earlier in the day, the Peruvian male team obtained the silver medal after defeating fellow rival Ecuador 3-0.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

From September 22nd until 24th, Lima will become the capital of business tourism in the region, because it will host the Travel Mart Latin America (TMLA) 2010, according to a press release by the Peru's Hotels Society (SHP).

"Some 950 delegates from Latin America, the United States, Europe, Asia, Europe and Oceania, interested in knowing our history, archaeological and cultural riches will attend the conference,” said the SHP general manager, Tibisay Monsalve.

Monsalve reminded that Peru is hosting this event for the second time since 2005, and remarked that this is a great opportunity to show our resources and infrastructure, as well as a growing and modern country.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

From now on, those driving a vehicle while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs will be punished with six months to two years in prison, even if they do not cause an accident.

Meanwhile, if the driver runs over and causes the death of several persons, the penalty increases to eight years imprisonment, as well as with the revoking of the driver's license.

The new law (published today in the the official gazette “El Peruano”) establishes that the penalty will be applied when the alcohol level in blood exceeds 0.5 grams per liter (for private transport drivers) or more than 0.25 grams in the case  of public transportation, passengers, cargo or general cargo.

The law also determines that the drivers who present resistance to the authority or that refuse to undergo any test done to determine their levels of alcohol will also be punished with jail time for not less than six months nor more than four years.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru will remain among the three main Latin American markets for investment companies during 2010, since they don't have plans of leaving any of their current markets, according to a survey done by KPMG international firm, called "Out of Adversity."

The survey covered 165 executives from Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, México, Peru and Venezuela, According to the study, the financing of possible investments or strategic changes would mostly come from banks (70%) and only 20% from private capital funds.

The executives polled also mentioned that they would prefer that their governments cut tax rates, as their peers in Brazil, Mexico and Chile do.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.