Latin America

Friday, August 3rd 2012 - 07:24 UTC
Colombian court ruling favours indigenous people; government to appeal

Colombian Defence minister said on Thursday the Constitutional Court’s decision to order armed forces to leave indigenous territories in south-eastern Colombia will not affect military presence in the volatile south-western Cauca department.
Friday, August 3rd 2012 - 07:18 UTC
Ecuador president limits publicity to “friendly” media and raids magazine office

The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) described as “contrary to the principles of freedom of expression and press freedom” an order by the Government of Ecuador to withdraw official advertising from independent news media.
Friday, August 3rd 2012 - 07:10 UTC
Bolivia seizes silver and indium mine operated by Canadian firm

Confirming the growing trend in several South American countries, Bolivia expropriated a silver and indium mine operated by a local unit of Canadian firm South American Silver, a move criticized by Ottawa and likely to scare off foreign investors.
Thursday, August 2nd 2012 - 07:38 UTC
Paraguay urges OAS to take a position on the country’s situation

Paraguay urged the Organization of American States, OAS, on Wednesday to say whether it will be taking measures or not against the country following the removal of Fernando Lugo from the presidency, a political incident that has reverberated in the whole continent.
Thursday, August 2nd 2012 - 07:08 UTC
Chilean opposition remains divided ahead of October municipal elections

Chilean opposition registered its candidates at the Electoral Service for the coming municipal elections in October but was unable to reach an overall agreement to face the ruling conservative parties.
Thursday, August 2nd 2012 - 06:46 UTC
The next December solstice celebration in Bolivia will have Coca Cola after all

Bolivia said on Wednesday that statements from Foreign minister David Choquehuanca about “the end of Coca Cola” were taken out of context adding there are no plans to expulse the US Company from the country, as published in the local media.
Thursday, August 2nd 2012 - 06:40 UTC
Swedish authorities turn down offer to question Assange in Ecuadorian embassy

Ecuador wants to prevent Julian Assange's extradition to Sweden because it is disappointed that the Scandinavian country has turned down an offer to question the WikiLeaks founder in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, a minister said on Wednesday.
Wednesday, August 1st 2012 - 22:28 UTC
Brazilian tourists swamp Chilean winter resorts; 30% more in first half of 2012

Chile’s Under Secretary for Tourism Jacqueline Plass reported that the arrival of Brazilian tourists had soared 30% in the first half of the year, attracted mostly to the ski centres along the Andes Mountains and to Patagonia.
Wednesday, August 1st 2012 - 19:37 UTC
Venezuela’s Mercosur membership “null and void” says Paraguayan government

The Paraguayan government declared “illegal” and “null and void” the inclusion of Venezuela as a full member of Mercosur which was agreed on Tuesday during the extraordinary meeting held in Brasilia with the absence of Paraguay.
Wednesday, August 1st 2012 - 08:08 UTC
Dilma welcomes President Chavez to the world’s fifth economy

Brazilian president DIlma Rousseff said that with the incorporation of Venezuela, Mercosur has become a global power in food and energy and becomes the fifth world economy with a GDP of 3.3tn dollars.