Living in Peru : your everyday companion

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.

DowJones.com
Anthony Esposito

Chile's foreign minister Mariano Fernandez sent a clear message on Thursday that trade with Peru wouldn't be damaged, at least for now, because of Peru's accusations of Chilean espionage in the country.

Last week Peruvian authorities detained Peruvian military official Victor Ariza Mendoza, alleging he had spied for neighboring Chile. The escalation of verbal hostilities reached a new high when some members of Peru's Parliament asked for the bilateral trade agreement with Chile to be revoked.

Fernandez said that reason will at some point prevail in Peru, leading authorities to see the importance of Chile's economic contribution through commerce. Chile is also the second biggest foreign investor in Peru, he added.

Chile's chief trade negotiator, Carlos Furche, said "from a trade point of view, Chile is more important for Peru and if we take into consideration investments, there is no doubt, because there are some $7 billion of Chilean investment in Peru."

In 2008, Chile exported $1.5 billion worth of goods to Peru, while importing $1.8 billion in goods from Peru.

The espionage allegations have led Peru's nationalist party to demand that Peru's government retaliate on the economic front.

"What we have asked for is a suspension of the free trade deal with Chile," nationalist party leader Ollanta Humala said Tuesday in a broadcast interview.

Relations between the two countries have been especially cool this year because of increased Chilean arms purchases, and Peru's demands at the International Court of Justice at The Hague over a maritime border that Chile considers its own.

Earlier this week Alberto Van Klaveren, Chile's Foreign Relations Under Secretary, left his post to be exclusively in charge of representing Chile at The Hague.

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

According to Transparency International’s 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released in Berlin this week, Peru has 3.7 points in a ranking that ranges between 0 (highly corrupt) and 10 (least corrupt).

Peru ranks better than some of its neighbors, like Argentina (2.9) , Bolivia (2.7), and Ecuador (2.2), and has the same score as Brazil and Colombia.

Chile is perceived as less corrupt than all its neighbors, scoring 6.7, and Venezuela ranks lowest in the region, with 1.9.

Corruption is seriously widespread in Latin America, said Sylvia Schenk, president of Transparency International in Germany.

On the other hand, the world’s top five countries perceived to be the least corrupt are New Zealand (9.4), Denmark (9.3), Sweden and Singapore with 9.2, and Switzerland with 9.0.

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

Lima Trade Chamber estimated the internal tourism is likely to register a 12% increase by the end of the year.

Nevertheless, receptive tourism will close 2009 with a 9% drop, even when international arrivals are increasing at the same percentage, said Alvaro Benavides, President of the Committee of Tourism (Comtur).

"We are waiting for the recovery of receptive tourism in the next months, pushed by hotel investments, that hadn't stopped, same as the traffic of passengers at international level," added Benavides.

He also asked for some corrective measures to be taken aiming to avoid the growth rate, both internal and receptive tourism, to drop due to some factors like the predicted "El Niño" for 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 Killers, the Las Vegas band which will perform tonight in Lima, chose “Autobús” as their Peruvian supporting band.

Created more than three years ago, the band is conformed by Luis Enrique Piccini, David Acuna, Alejandro León, Luciano Leone and Juan Jose Salazar.

“Autobús'” public activities started in February 2006 with a series of recitals in venues like at La Noche de Barranco, The Dragon, and Backpackers, sharing the stage with groups like Los Dickens, Los Fuckin Sombreros, Los Yaks and Jardín Secreto.

Their song “The Duel” became the musical curtain of the TV program "Entre Titulares" (CMD) and its video clip positioned in a short time among the most requested on MTV, in addition to having a frequent rotation on local channels.

This will be undoubtedly be a great opportunity for the young Peruvian band.

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

Spanish singer Raphael captivated thousand of Limeans last night, singing his all-time hits and some of the most emblematic themes of the Latin American songbook, opening the Latin American section of his tour "50 Years Later."

Faithful to his style, Raphael played himself, sang and recited his verses, got angry or  laughed deadly, with committed fans singing along with him to almost all the songs of his 50 year career.

With the sole accompaniment of a piano, the 64-year-old Spanish singer proved that his voice still has the same power even at his age.

Red carnations were thrown over Raphael during all the concert.

The public sang delighted some of Raphael themes, like "Estar Enamorado"/Being in Love or "Mi Gran Noche"/Mi Great Night.

The artist from Linares chose a tango song, and performed classics like "Gracias a la Vida"/Thanks to Life, "Caminito"/Little Path, or "Si yo Tuviera Corazon"/If I had a Heart. But the climax arrived when he performed two Peruvian classics: "Cuando mi Guitarra Llora"/When my Guitar Wheeps and "Chabuca Limeña"/Limean Chabuca, this last one wearing a poncho.

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 Peruvian volleyball team added his second straight victory in the Bolivarian Games that are taking place in Sucre, after beating its Bolivian counterpart 3-0, and is now heading to the first place.

The Peruvians showed their technical superiority and won with partials 25-15, 25-14 and 25-16.

It is worth noting that Peruvian superiority was so evident that it it even had the chance of playing with the alternative players team, as well.

The team conducted by Kim Cheol-Young is preparing to face Venezuela, a much more experienced team, on Thursday. The Peruvians had already beat Ecuador in their previous match.

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.