URUGUAY: South American Champion...For Tourism in 2009.

M.PRESS/    Little Uruguay came close but didn't win the World Cup. Yet it did finish first...as the overall tourism leader of 15 Latin American countries. In 2009, Uruguay received 2 million tourists, a 7% increase over 2008, equal to 61.4% of the Uruguayan population. Panama followed Uruguay with 45.1% and the Dominican Republic with 44.2%. Brasil was at the bottom of the list for its GDP and population.

Former Uruguayan Dictator Alvarez Gets 25 Years.

MERCO PRESS/
Former Uruguayan military dictator General Gregorio Alvarez was sentenced to 25 years in jail for the deaths of leftist activists and violations of human rights during the 1973-85 dictatorship.

Maradona Lashes Out Against Argentine Media And Its Soccer Coverage.

MERCOPRESS/
At a press conference in Montevideo at the end of the crucial match between Argentina and Uruguay, Coach Diego Maradona attacked Argentine journalists who he said smeared the image of the national team, and insulted them before the cameras.
After barley beating Uruguay 1-0, Maradona, who led his country to World Cup glory in 1986, used crude terms to attack repeatedly "those who did not believe" in him.

Tiny Uruguay Threatens Argentina's Soccer Chance.

GLOBALPOST/ UPDATE, 15/10/2009: Uruguay LOST 1-0!
For Details: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/sports/091012/world-cup-soccer-maradona-montevideo

Today is the final day of South American qualification for the 2010 World Cup as Uruguay faces a formidable Argentina soccer team.
While Uruguay considers its neighbor Argentina a rival, Argentina sees Uruguay as nothing more than a second-rank soccer team and pest.

Undecided Voters Grow As Uruguay's Presidential Election Nears.

MERCOPRESS/
With three weeks to Uruguay's presidential election, the number of undecided voters has almost doubled.
According to Equipos-Mori pollsters the percentage of undecided went from 7% in August to over 12% at the end of September -- meaning instead of attracting voters, the two leading candidates are repelling them.
The campaign teams of incumbent candidate Jose Mujica and his main opponent Luis Alberto Lacalle say the declines come from the many fumbles committed by both sides in recent weeks.

Broadband Penetration Highest In Chile. Still Badly Trails The EU.

MERCOPRESS/
9.7% of Chile’s population can access broadband and 31% of its homes have broadband connections.
Chile is followed by Argentina (9.3%), Uruguay (8.5%) and Brazil (5.8%). Compared with some European countries such as Germany -whose broadband penetration level is 29.9% - and Spain’s 20.3%, Chile is still far behind.

Uruguay Election Preview.

GLOBALVOICESONLINE/

Capital Flight In Argentina Equals $2 Billion USD Monthly.

From MercoPress.com

Current capital flight in Argentina is now equal to the amount that left the country in 2001 during the nation's last economic crisis.

Much of the capital is leaving through Uruguay.