Uruguay, officially the Eastern Republic of Uruguay or the Republic East of the Uruguay (River) (Spanish: República Oriental del Uruguay; pron. IPA ), is a country located in southern South America. It is bordered by Brazil to the north, the Uruguay River to the west, the estuary of the Río de la Plata (literally "River of Silver", but commonly known in English as "River Plate") to the southwest, with Argentina on the other bank of both, and finally the South Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. About half of its people live in the capital and largest city, Montevideo. The nation is the second smallest independent country in South America, larger than only Suriname (it is also larger than French Guiana, which is not independent), and is one of the most politically and economically stable.

History

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Main article: History of Uruguay The name "Uruguay" comes from Guaraní, the original language of the native people of the region. It means "river of the painted birds."

The first Europeans arrived in the area in the early 16th century. Both Spain and Portugal pursued the colonization of Uruguay, with the Spanish eventually gaining control. The future capital, Montevideo, was founded in the early 18th century and became a rival to Buenos Aires across the Río de la Plata. Montevideo, however, was thought of as a military center for the Spanish empire, while Buenos Aires was a commercial center.

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L.A. Times - Latin America

Barbadians gripe over snake 'find'
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
They long knew about the world's smallest snake, which just made its scientific debut. A small snake has sparked a big debate in Barbados.
World Briefing
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
China: Quake-hit schools were poorly built / Mexico: Three held in beheadings / Russia: Army kills 5 Muslim rebels in Dagestan Schools were poorly built
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels opens its doors to mariachi camp
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
The L.A. cathedral plays host to young musicians learning the upbeat Mexican genre. Joacim Naranjo plays the trumpet pretty well. But the 16-year-old from East Los Angeles found himself flapping his sore lips like a horse as he and a half dozen other boys tried to master the rapidly cascading sounds of a mariachi song.
Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival to begin Sept. 12
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
A production boom in Colombia will be felt. I N THE film " Paraíso Travel,” a young immigrant named Marlon finds himself lost and broke shortly after arriving in New York and being separated from his girlfriend, the cunning and sexy Reina, played by Angélica Blandón. He meets an older man, a fixer for new arrivals, who helps him find shelter and asks the naive illegal what else he might need.
U.S. national team makes a rare trip to Cuba
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Americans are favored in World Cup qualifier, but Cubans are fired up for the event. Sixty-one years have slipped by since the one and only time the United States played Cuba in a soccer match on Cuban soil.
LAX tightens security measures after alleged smuggling
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Airport and federal officials have made adjustments in the international terminal after an elevator mechanic was arrested on suspicion of helping illegal immigrants enter the country. Airport officials and federal authorities said Thursday that they have tightened security at Los Angeles International Airport because of the recent arrest of an elevator mechanic suspected of smuggling illegal immigrants into the United States.

UN News Centre - Americas

UN rushing aid to Caribbean nations hit hard by severe weather
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations is providing assistance to a number of countries in the Caribbean that have been badly affected by recent severe weather, particularly Haiti which has been the worst hit, the world body's top humanitarian official said today.
Emergency aid expected to reach stranded Haitians, says UN agency
Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United Nations food agency expects to be able to send emergency assistance today to Haitians stranded in the flooded northern city of Gonaïves, which was battered by Tropical Storm Hanna on Monday night.
Floating clinic brings vital health care to Ecuador's refugee communities - UN
Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Isolated communities living in northern Ecuador are now able to receive urgently-needed health care thanks to a new floating clinic launched with the help of the United Nations refugee agency.

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