Latin America

Saturday, July 6th 2013 - 07:01 UTC
H1N1 influenza virus outbreak in north Chile; government considering decreeing ‘health alert’

Eleven people have died from the H1N1 influenza virus in northern Chile in an outbreak that the health minister raised the possibility of decreeing a health alert to restrict people's mobility.
Friday, July 5th 2013 - 23:52 UTC
Brazil cuts spending determined to ensure 2.3% primary surplus, pledges Mantega

Brazil announced on Friday it will immediately cut government spending by 6.65 billion dollars to balance the budget and achieve the goal of a primary fiscal surplus of 2.3% of GDP. The decision is seen as a strong signal to recover investors’ confidence following weeks of turmoil and poor performance of the economy.
Friday, July 5th 2013 - 23:41 UTC
Bachelet and Longueira will dispute the Chilean presidency next November

Chilean president Sebastián Piñera congratulated former president Michelle Bachelet and ex Economy minister Pablo Longeuira who emerged as winners in the two main coalition’ primaries held last Sunday, the first time such an event takes place in the country.
Friday, July 5th 2013 - 23:35 UTC
Brazil’s growth refuses to take off, despite all of government incentives

Brazil’s industrial output fell 2% in May after jumping a revised 1.9% in April, the national statistics agency announced this week in Rio de Janeiro. The fall was greater than forecasted but still was 1.4% above a year ago. However as the government or President Dilma Rousseff struggles to fight inflation, the latest data complicates the strategy to prop growth.
Friday, July 5th 2013 - 23:27 UTC
Brazilians want ‘trial of the century’ jail sentences to be implemented immediately

An overwhelming majority of Brazilians are demanding the immediate compliance of the criminal rulings which sentenced 25 high ranking officials in the so called ‘trial of the century’ for their involvement in corruption practices back in 2005 and which at the time almost toppled the administration of then president Lula da Silva.
Friday, July 5th 2013 - 22:57 UTC
John Paul II and John XXIII will be made saints, announced the Vatican

The late Pope John Paul II will be made a saint, the Vatican said on Friday, announcing that Pope Francis had approved a second miracle attributed to the Polish pontiff, who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005.
Friday, July 5th 2013 - 22:52 UTC
Spain calls for calm over Bolivian plane incident, but anticipates ‘no apologies’

Spain called for calm on Friday in a diplomatic row ignited when Bolivian President Evo Morales's plane was diverted because of suspicions that fugitive US intelligence ‘leaker’ Edward Snowden was aboard. However he anticipated there would be no apologies from Spain as South American countries are demanding.
Friday, July 5th 2013 - 07:11 UTC
Latam leaders in Bolivia support President Morales and blast European countries

Latin American leaders gathered in Bolivia on Thursday to back President Evo Morales, fuming after some European nations temporarily refused his plane access to their airspace amid suspicions US fugitive Edward Snowden was aboard.
Friday, July 5th 2013 - 07:07 UTC
Ecuador asks UK to help investigate spying at its embassy in London

Ecuador has asked the UK to help an investigation over alleged spying at its embassy in London where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is living. Ecuador named a British company it claimed planted a listening device in their ambassador's office but this was denied.
Thursday, July 4th 2013 - 04:38 UTC
UNASUR special meeting to discuss the diversion of Bolivian President Evo Morales' plane in Europe

The Union of South American Nations (Unasur) condemned the diversion of Bolivia’s President Evo Morales flight on Tuesday, after France and Portugal refused to let the plane into their airspace. Several Latin American leaders criticized the decision severely, and asked for explanations from the international community.