Uruguayan Ambassador to Venezuela Denies Búsqueda Story (9-MAY-2008) Uruguayan weekly Búsqueda published an article stating that Uruguayan Ambassador to Venezuela Gerónimo Cardozo said there was “corruption” and was critical of the Chávez administration. Cardozo supposedly made the statements while meeting with a delegation of Uruguayan legislators from the Nacional and Frente Amplio parties who traveled to Caracas on 23 April. Read More ... UDN

Rowdy Students and Police Clash in La Teja, Montevideo (9-MAY-2008) Serious incidents occurred at high school no. 38 in La Teja, Montevideo after students began throwing firecrackers from the third floor of the building and other students started a fistfight on the patio. The students causing problems then assaulted an off duty police officer working security detail after the principal decided to suspend classes. Read More ... UDN

Strong Ticket Sales for Clásico (9-MAY-2008) “Something like this has rarely been seen,” confessed a ticket office employee at Centenario Stadium who has worked for several years at the sports complex. Ticket sales for Sunday’s highly anticipated Peñarol-Nacional “clásico” match began at 10am yesterday. By 2pm, tickets in the Amsterdam section (reserved for Peñarol fans) had already sold out. Read More ... UDN

Montevideo’s Rambla Closed for Pan American Cycling Championship Montevideo’s Rambla Closed for Pan American Cycling Championship (9-MAY-2008) Montevideo’s seaside highway (rambla) will be closed today and this weekend for the Pan American Cycling Championship between 8:30am to 4pm.  Read More ... UDN

April Inflation Inflation figures for April were released on Monday. Inflation totaled 0.33%, putting year to date inflation figures at 3.2%. This shows a slowdown with respect to prior months and last year.  Read More ... UDN

World Bank to Loan USD 860 Million to Uruguay The World Bank will loan USD 860 million to Uruguay during the Vázquez administration. The objectives of the loan are to reduce the country’s external vulnerabilities, contribute to sustainable growth and improve quality of life. At the end of 2007, the World Bank resolved to add USD 60 million to the original figure the organization slated for Uruguay. Read More ... UDN

Phase Two of Energy Restrictions: Businesses Affected Due to the drought and forecasts for dry weather for the next 15 days, the government has decided to move to phase two of the Energy Savings Plan that will force mandatory measures on private businesses. Outside lighting for buildings, signs and decorative fixtures will not be permitted under phase two. Read More ... UDN

Nacional Out of Copa Libertadores Nacional lost to Sao Paolo 2 – nil at Morumbi stadium and has been eliminated from the Copa Libertadores de América tournament. Sao Paolo did not have a great performance, but a timely goal by Adriano and the ejection of Pablo Caballero in the first minutes of the first half made their job easy. Read More ... UDN

Uruguay - Chile Match Fixing Case to Court (7-MAY-2008) Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez and Tourism and Sports Minister Héctor Lescano agreed that the case of Argentine referee Sergio Pezzotta, who is accused of making an “anti-sportsmanlike pact” to favor Uruguay in their match against Chile, should go to court. Read More ... UDN

Maldonado March Calls for Public Security (7-MAY-2008) About 200 Maldonado residents marched last night to call for better public security following two homicides over the weekend. With Uruguayan flags and signs, protesters gathered in front of the departmental police headquarters, calling for an end to the violence. Read More ... UDN

High Diesel Prices May Lead to Rural Uprising (7-MAY-2008) The increase in diesel fuel prices, which now are higher than gasoline prices, may cause farmers to mobilize. Rural union president Rodrigo Herrero said that small and medium producers will be hurt most by the fuel hikes. Read More ... UDN

Yellow Card Dr. Guillermo Marconi, the secretary general for the Sports Referees Society of Argentina (SADRA), traveled to Montevideo yesterday to meet with the president of the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) regarding the investigation of an “anti-sportsmanlike pact” of an Argentine referee favoring Uruguay in a game against Chile. Read More ... UDN

Budget Reallocation and Education Law Approved by Ministers’ Council In a meeting at the Suárez residence, the Council of Ministers unanimously approved two bills that now must go to Parliament for discussion. Economy Minister Danilo Astori and Education Minister María Simón confirmed additional budget allotments of USD 319 million, of which USD 134 will be earmarked for education. Read More ... UDN

Lugo to Attend Social Forum Newly elected Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo will come to Montevideo at the end of May to participate in the Sao Paolo Social Forum. Several Latin American presidents are expected to attend as well, but to date only Lugo and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa have confirmed attendance.  Read More ... UDN

Montevideo and Union Seek Solution (5-MAY-2008) Officials from the municipality of Montevideo today will again meet again with the union representing municipal workers to seek an agreement to end the labor conflict. Leaders from the PIT-CNT syndicate will mediate the talks. Municipal workers are calling for payment of USD 40 million in back wages. Meanwhile, the former secretary general of ADEOM, the municipal workers’ union, said that in the 47 years he worked in the municipality he had never seen so many “well off” people in the Ricardo Ehrlich administration. Read More ... UDN