Economy

In the examination performed every six years, the World Trade Organization considered Peru's performance to be "an exceptional case in the context of the crisis".

The WTO said that Peru's foreign trade doubled between 2007 and 2012, and increased its value-added exports, which led the country to deepen its integration with the global economy.

Mining & Energy

Diplomacy

The Conference of the States composed of 180 Parties elected this morning to Peru as a member of the World Heritage Committee. The Committee, which manages global natural and cultural sites acting as world heritage, is composed of 21 countries. Peru was the only Spanish-speaking Latin American country elected. 
"The international community has given back to the policies of Peru on cultural heritage and its foreign policy in the Unesco", pointed Ambassador Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros, Peruvian representative at UNESCO, at the end of voting. 

Peru's Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion (MTPE) has assumed the vice-chair of the Organization of American States (OAS) working group on ensuring the protection of labor rights and the promotion of social dialogue. 

The Peruvian government has announced the opening of a Commercial Office of Peru Abroad (OCEX for its Spanish acronym) in New Delhi, capital of India.

Environment

Tropical forests are threatened by many types of farming, ranching, and human activity. One of the best ways to track those threats is through the Landsat series of satellites, developed by NASA and operated by the U.S. Geological Survey. The Landsat data makes it possible for scientists to monitor changes in remote landscapes without leaving their offices and labs. Clinton Jenkins of North Carolina State University, in July 2013, received a tip from colleagues in South America about some possible deforestation in the Loreto region of Peru.

 

Archaeology

Human-sacrifice rituals at an ancient Moche temple in Peru likely featured the killing of war captives from distant valleys, according to an analysis of bones and teeth at the site.

The human remains-mutilated, dismembered, and buried in pits-help explain territorial struggles among the Moche, who ruled Peru's arid coast from around 100 A.D. to 850 A.D. (See also "Moche Burials Uncovered.")

Politics

Peru's new Interior Minister Walter Alban, sworn in Tuesday morning at a government palace ceremony, called for political opponents to give him time to work before criticizing his appointment, daily El Comercio reported. 

During Peruvian elections, it is illegal to sell alcoholic beverages. This regulation, known as the "dry law" (ley seca), is ostensibly meant to prevent citizens from committing what one might call a "V.U.I."- that is, voting under the influence. The ban begins 48 hours before the day of the election, and ends at twelve noon the day after voting took place, for a total of 84 bone dry hours. 

Gastronomy

La Mora Pasteleria and Cafe offers beautifully prepared food in a gentle, old-fashioned setting.

The woman behind La Mora and the authentic European-style food and recipes is Brigitte Schlomp, originally from Germany, who opened La Mora back in 1996. We were told that La Mora uses the finest ingredients as well as traditional methods to prepare their homemade, artisanal breads, desserts, and other menu items. 

Tourism

Going on a vacation means that you will spend money on hotels, food, tours, and souvenirs, and for most people in their early twenties, like myself, it's really hard to go on a trip to Arequipa or Cusco. Even places close to Lima, like Ica, can be very expensive. It's very frustrating to live in such a magnificent place and not be able to explore.

Don't despair, however; there are plenty of things one can do to check off those bucket-list adventures without breaking the bank. 

 

 

The Krafts had a memorable time in the incredible Manu rainforest, seeing all kinds of exotic animals and plants and building a bio-garden. They also had a sobering lesson about the effects of heavy logging and mining on the area. 

Fashion

Peruvian-born Mario Testino's latest exhibit gives a nod to his homeland's roots. The gorgeous new photo showcase, dubbed "Alta Moda" (which means "high fashion" in Spanish and Italian), opens at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York today. The photos-shown earlier this year at MATE, the nonprofit cultural organization established by Testino in his native city of Lima-were brought to New York with the support of another fashion superstar, Oscar de la Renta (who is the chairman of the institute's board).

  

More articles:

See Mario Testino's Beautiful Portraits of Peruvian Ladies  

Mario Testino Goes Back To His Roots 

Mario Testino Exhibit Opens at Queen Sofi�a Spanish Institute 

The Peruvian fashion industry is striving to establish their nation as a potential power in the world of haute couture. Their most recent effort is Peru Fashion Night, a presentation and celebration of Peruvian fashion that will be held tonight in Washington, D.C.

Though the titular fashion night will take place tonight, other related events will also occur from Tuesday, Nov. 19 to Friday, Nov. 22. 

Miscellaneous

A series of advertisements featuring same-sex couples that are currently on display in the streets of Lima have caused quite a stir.

The couples in the ads aren't just anonymous gay couples. To be more precise, they're not even really couples. But a number of straight male celebrities and politicians have taken part in the "Imaginary Couples" campaign, allowing themselves to be photographed with another man in scenes depicting the everyday life of homosexual couples.

Jane Goodall, the scientist who lived with chimps in the Gombe reserve in Tanzania in order to better understand the environment, primates, and humanity itself, is now visiting Lima. Instead of doing field studies, these days Goodall travels the world with a message of environmental conservation.  Activist and author is visiting the city with plans to expand her educational "Roots & Shoots" program.

The air force is planning to send two Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters to Peru to take part in exercises next year but some observers wonder whether that makes sense because of the limited availability of such aircraft in Canada.

The Cormorants, one from each coast, would be dismantled and transported on board Royal Canadian Air Force C-17 planes to Peru in April, according to sources.