Latin America

• Monday, June 27th 2011 - 06:24 UTC

  Parlasur member claims Mercosur summits have become ‘display of empty rhetoric’

  

  Mercosur summits have become a display of empty rhetoric, full of protocol and ‘family photos’ but with no full hearted willingness to achieve a solid, fair integration, claimed the head of the Paraguayan delegation before Parlasur, the Mercosur Parliament.

• Monday, June 27th 2011 - 05:26 UTC

  Three risk rating agencies have Colombia with investment grade

  

  Fitch Ratings raised Colombia to investment grade last week, becoming the third Wall Street agency to elevate the country this year to the coveted status, opening the door to a broader range of investors.

• Sunday, June 26th 2011 - 02:51 UTC

  Contradictory reports on the health condition of President Chavez

  

  Venezuela’s Deputy Foreign Affairs minister Temir Porras said on Saturday President Hugo Chavez was rapidly recovering from surgery and described reports to the contrary published in the Miami press as ‘day dreaming’

• Sunday, June 26th 2011 - 02:46 UTC

  China loans and oil prices boost Ecuador economy two years after default

  

  Ecuador’s bonds are rewarding investors with the best performance in Latin America as Chinese loans and higher oil prices boost confidence in the economy two years after the country defaulted on 3.2 billion US dollars in debt.

• Sunday, June 26th 2011 - 01:24 UTC

  Chile tourism promotion in 3D following agreement with LG Corp

  

  “Chile is good for you.” Viewers across the globe will be reading this phrase, following footage of smiling kayakers and playful porpoises, surrounded by a breathtaking landscape of snow-capped Andes Mountains. All brought to you by the Chilean government and the good people of LG Corp.

• Saturday, June 25th 2011 - 07:18 UTC

  Chile among lowest for teen births in Latam, but still double the UK

  

  Out of every 1,000 girls aged 15-19 in Chile, 51 become pregnant and give birth to a child, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). These latest figures place Chile’s percentage below pregnancy rates for all other South American countries, but still far behind nations outside the region.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 19:59 UTC

  Venezuela’s Chavez health and prolonged recovery turns into political controversy

  

  Two weeks after surgery in Cuba, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is “stronger than ever” but will not rush home until he is ready, announced Defence minister General Carlos Mata Figueroa.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 11:32 UTC

  Chile’s largest indigenous group, Mapuches celebrate New Year

  

  When the sun began to set on Thursday evening, the Mapuche people prepared for one of the most ancient celebrations in their history: the We-tripantu, or the New Year.

• Friday, June 24th 2011 - 10:45 UTC

  Chilean officials fear Bolivia’s car amnesty program will encourage more thefts

  

  Bolivia’s government estimates that 85,000 cars will benefit from its new amnesty program that allows undocumented vehicles to register without prior paperwork. Chileans are not pleased about the path to immunity.

• Thursday, June 23rd 2011 - 13:23 UTC

  Chile’s fourth retail chain collapses under 1bn USD debt; super manager contracted

  

  La Polar, Chile’s fourth largest retail chain is in deep water. Company stock has fallen 80% in the last two weeks and the entire board of directors has offered to resign.