Stories for May 2010

Friday, May 7th 2010 - 01:41 UTC
UNASUR will Address “Coup Attempt-Honduras Model” in Paraguay

An imminent coup in Paraguay, Honduras-model, with the purpose of ousting President Fernando Lugo was analyzed by UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) leaders during the recent summit held in Buenos Aires, according to press reports from Argentina and Brazil.
Friday, May 7th 2010 - 01:16 UTC
Brazilian Bishops Distance Peer who Argues Adolescents are “Spontaneously Homosexual”

Brazil’s Catholic bishops rejected statements from their Porto Alegre peer, Monsignor Dadeus Grings who—in the midst of a global scandal over priests’ sexual abuse of minors—argued that modern society is naturally “paedophile”.
Friday, May 7th 2010 - 00:47 UTC
Greek Contagion Threatens South Europe and UK Banks Warns Rating Agency

Banks in the United Kingdom and Europe risk their credit ratings being damaged because of “contagion” from Greece's debt crisis, a ratings agency has warned. Moody's said banking systems faced “very real, common threats” if doubts were raised about their governments' abilities to pay debts. It referred specifically to UK, Irish, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish banking systems.
Friday, May 7th 2010 - 00:44 UTC
LAN Readies Expansion into Colombian and Brazilian Markets

Chile's flagship carrier LAN Airlines S.A. (NYSE:LFL) is looking to enter the Colombian domestic passenger market by helping Colombia’s Aeroasis S.A. obtain the necessary permits to operate in the country, Chief Executive Enrique Cueto said on Thursday.
Friday, May 7th 2010 - 00:40 UTC
IMF Chief to visit Latin America, “Region Brimming with Energy and Promise”

IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn will travel to Brazil and Peru from May 25-28 to meet with government leaders, leading figures from the private sector, and with students and academics as part of efforts to engage more closely with stakeholders in the region.
Friday, May 7th 2010 - 00:38 UTC
Greece Shocked by Riot Deaths; Parliament Approves Draconian Saving Reforms

Greece's parliament approved Thursday the hefty cuts and reforms proposed by the government to address the country's financial crisis. Members voted 172-121 to pass the bill, which includes tax rises and cuts in pensions and public sector bonuses. Police used tear gas to disperse protestors who rallied outside. On Wednesday, three bank workers died in a petrol bomb attack as demonstrations over the planned austerity measures turned violent.
Thursday, May 6th 2010 - 20:02 UTC
New Natural Gas Discoveries in the Extreme South of Chile

Argentine based GeoPark Holdings (LON:GPK) has reported the successful testing of two new wells on the Fell Block in southern Chile.
Thursday, May 6th 2010 - 19:45 UTC
Colombian Candidate Warns: No Peace Talks Unless Constitution is Respected

Colombia’s leading presidential candidate Antanas Mockus promised that if elected president he will continue the military fight against the FARC rebels, unless the group abandons violence and kidnapping and accepts constitutional rule.
Thursday, May 6th 2010 - 19:42 UTC
Foreign Direct Investment in Latam Expected to Soar 40/50% in 2010

Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to Latin America and the Caribbean will rebound in 2010, rising 40% to 50%, after dropping in 2009 as a result of the global crisis, according to ECLAC's (United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean) annual report released Wednesday.
Thursday, May 6th 2010 - 19:41 UTC
Gay Marriage Bill: Argentine Church to Lobby More “Conservative” Senate

The Argentine Catholic Church said that the Lower House ruling that approved the bill to legalize same-sex marriage is “very serious”. The Church, through its spokespersons, said that the bill “does not constitute any kind of progress” and that “it could revolutionize the concept of society and of family.”