Latin America

• Thursday, January 4th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Chavez full ahead with his Socialist model project

  

  Venezuelan re-elected President Hugo Chavez dismissed Thursday his longtime confidant Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel and former Minister of Interior Jesse Chacón promising to complete his new cabinet by next Wednesday when he takes office for a six year mandate extending until 2013.

• Thursday, January 4th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Cuba reaches 50% self sufficiency in oil consumption

  

  Cuba reached its target of 3.9 million tons of oil and gas in 2006, while foreign companies in association with the local Cubapetroleo, CUPET, corporation continue exploration in 30 other wells, reported Havana authorities.

• Wednesday, January 3rd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile: Broken Santiago airstrip slows traffic

  Faulty runway renovation caused delays last Thursday at Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, Santiago.

• Wednesday, January 3rd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela & Argentina to top economic performance

  Venezuela and Argentina are forecasted to top economic performance in the region in 2007, above 6% growth, with Chile, Colombia, Panama, Peru and Dominican Republic following at levels ranging 5%, according to a top World Bank official.

• Tuesday, January 2nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivia requires Visa for US Citizens

  

  Bolivian President Evo Morales suppressed by decree the right of US citizens to enter this country freely, in reciprocity with a similar measure taken by the US government.

• Tuesday, January 2nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Latinamerican currencies exposed to appreciation tendency

  

  Latinamerican currencies are expected to begin 2007 with the same upward tendency as during the end of 2006 as foreign investors' flock to emerging markets.

• Tuesday, January 2nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Two NZ adventurers reach South Pole unsupported

  

  The New Zealand Thermal Heart Antarctic Expedition of Jamie Fitzgerald (26) and Kevin Biggar (36) achieved on Tuesday their goal of trekking 1.100 kilometers unsupported to the South Pole. They are the first all NZ expedition to reach the South Pole for 50 years.

• Sunday, December 31st 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Castro admits “slow recovery from surgery” in message

  Cuban President Fidel Castro said in his New Year message on Saturday that he is recovering slowly from surgery and has been collaborating with doctors as “a disciplined patient”.

• Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Church influence and marriage, fading institutions in Chile

  The importance of religion in people's lives has diminished and this has been most significant for Chile in the last sixteen years, according to the conclusions of a report from the Chilean chapter of Mori public opinion surveys.

• Friday, December 29th 2006 - 20:00 UTC

  Latinamerica 2007: stability and the end of an era

  Latin America enters 2007 with renewed political leadership and generally booming economic prospects but highly dependent on the current global bullish market for commodities.