Optimism among entrepreneurs for the Peruvian economy outlook in the next three months rises in September to its second-highest level since last May, the Central Reserve Bank (BCR) of Peru has said.  

Peru's production of copper and gold, the country's top two exports, posted strong increases in August, the government said Friday.

Peru plans to call bids for 26 oil and gas exploration blocks in the Amazon jungle in December, once prior consultation hearings have been completed with indigenous communities, energy and mines minister Jorge Merino said.

Peru's government plans to promote the construction of gold processing plants around the country as part of a drive to formalize its small-scale mining sector, energy and mines minister Jorge Merino said.

Peru seeks US$27bn in energy investment over the next decade, including hydroelectric plants, to handle rising power demand from an economy slated to expand 6% annually, energy and mines minister Jorge Merino said at a press conference.

Peru's agriculture and irrigation ministry, Minagri, has approved 120 irrigation projects for a total of 678mn soles (US$244mn) in the first nine months of the year, a Minagri statement said.

The Peruvian government believes it has a diplomatic solution to a spirited problem.

Peruvian pisco seems to be on its way up. Once an obscure grape liquor familiar only to hardcore brandy-lovers, pisco is increasingly becoming more and more well-known outside of Peru.

Peruvian pisco is has even garnered legal vindication this week. The Supreme Court of the nation of El Salvador granted Peru the right to market and sell pisco as a nationally proprietary good. The victory comes after almost ten years of legal squabbles between Chile and Peru in El Salvador. 

Yesterday in New York the brand 'Amazon' was officially proclaimed winner of the International Chocolate Award 2013, phase 'U.S., Latin America and Asia', ensuring their place in the grand final to be held in London on October 15. There, "Amazon" will compete with the best brands in the world to continue to demonstrate that producers of fine cocoa and chocolate from Peru have enormous commercial potential.  

Peruvian Labour Minister Nancy Laos will participate in the Third Global Conference on Child Labour aimed at designing policies and integrated strategies for addressing this issue.  

Peruvian ambassador Manuel Rodr�guez has proposed a new effort to reinforce protections for valuable cultural and historical goods around the world to UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Rodr�guez stated that the project is a joint proposal of the nations of Peru, Mexico, and Ecuador.

This winter has been Lima's most intense in 30 years. But, as Terra Hall discovered, relief, warmer temperatures and a healthy dose of vitamin D are just an hour-and-a-half away.  

I'm like a bear. In the winter, I go into hibernation mode, packing on the pounds and retreating to the warmth and comfort of my bed. Then, when the temperatures rise and the sun comes out, I can't seem to get enough of the rays, often waking up early just to get the most out of the day.

Needless to say, I was fed up with dark days; so on a recent Saturday, I decided to take a day-trip to San Jeronimo de Surco, a mountainous town 50 miles east of Lima. At this time of year, San Jeronimo offers warmer temperatures, blue skies and lots of sunshine, not to mention some great hiking and beautiful vistas.