Latin America

Friday, August 16th 2013 - 17:46 UTC
Ecuador ‘forced’ to drill for oil in pristine Amazon rainforest; ‘rich countries have failed us’

Ecuador has abandoned a conservation plan that would have paid the country not to drill for oil in previously untouched parts of Yasuni National Park in the Amazon rainforest. President Rafael Correa said rich nations had failed to back the initiative, leaving Ecuador with no choice but go ahead with drilling.
Friday, August 16th 2013 - 03:27 UTC
South American defense ministers meet to improve monitoring of Amazon region

South American defense ministers gathered in the northern Brazilian city of Manaus on Thursday to discuss how to improve monitoring of the huge Amazon region. Attending the seminar which runs through Friday are Brazil's Celso Amorim, Colombia's Juan Carlos Pinzón and Ecuador's María Fernanda Espinosa.
Friday, August 16th 2013 - 02:57 UTC
Paraguay new president pledges ‘war on poverty’ and improved relations with neighbours

Conservative businessman Horacio Cartes was sworn in as president of Paraguay on Thursday, amid slowly improving relations with South American neighbors, and Mercosur members, damaged by the 2012 removal of populist President Fernando Lugo, who was impeached on incompetence.
Thursday, August 15th 2013 - 03:51 UTC
Mercosur controversy, Cartes main challenge when he takes office on Thursday

Most presidents and top authorities that will attend the inauguration of Paraguayan president-elect Horacio Cartes on Thursday morning arrived in Asunción on Wednesday and most of them have already held private meetings with the future leader of the country.
Thursday, August 15th 2013 - 03:45 UTC
With defiant fury Cristina Fernandez launched the campaign for October election

In an extremely aggressive speech in the aftermath of primaries defeat, Argentine president Cristina Fernandez blasted the media for misinterpreting electoral results, charged against the Mayor of Tigre Sergio Massa who was the big winner on Sunday, pressed for full commitment from her allies and promised more of the same in support of the ‘socially inclusive model’.
Thursday, August 15th 2013 - 03:37 UTC
Argentina July inflation 2.55% and 24.9% in twelve months, says congressional index

Argentina’s inflation according to the ‘congressional index’ reached 2.55% in July and 24.9% in the last twelve months was announced on Wednesday by members from the opposition in the Lower House.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 19:36 UTC
After inflation hits 42%, Maduro names a more pragmatic president to the Central bank

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro appointed the third central bank president this year as Latin America’s biggest oil exporter seeks to rein in the fastest inflation among the world’s major economies.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 19:24 UTC
Bachelet pledges mining reforms, including royalties, to help finance programs

Chile's presidential frontrunner Michelle Bachelet says she is studying possible changes to mining policy in the world's top copper producing country. The possible changes include altering mining royalties and funding programs for state-owned mining company Codelco.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 03:13 UTC
Chevron-YPF partnership splits the Argentina/Ecuador ‘progressive’ entente

US petroleum giant Chevron has warned that the continuing legal battle with Ecuador's government over pollution charges could put in jeopardy the company's partnership with YPF to exploit the Vaca Muerta shale reserves in the Patagonian province of Neuquén, Argentina.
Wednesday, August 14th 2013 - 03:06 UTC
Mexico to open state-run oil industry to private sector ending 75-year constitutional ban

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto is making the most daring gamble of his 8-month-old presidency with a proposal to lift a 75 year-old ban on private companies investing in the state-run oil industry, a cornerstone of Mexico’s national pride that’s seen production plummet in recent decades.