Latin America

Saturday, May 8th 2010 - 06:39 UTC
Spanish Recession and Lack of Jobs Forces Latam Immigrants to Return Home

More immigrants from non-European Union countries are returning to their native lands this year with help from the Spanish government, a situation similar to 2009, when the number of immigrants forced to pack up and go doubled because of the economic crisis.
Saturday, May 8th 2010 - 06:12 UTC
Long Experienced Politician Takes Office as Costa Rica’s First Woman President

Laura Chinchilla becomes Costa Rica's first female president on Saturday, taking over at a challenging time in one of Latin America's most stable democracies. Rising poverty and insecurity in the popular eco-tourism destination and a fiscal deficit worsened by the global financial crisis are key public concerns at the start of her four-year term.
Saturday, May 8th 2010 - 06:01 UTC
Cuban Sugar Crop Worst in a Century; Brazilian Investors Could Take over Industry

The current sugar harvest is Cuba’s worst since 1905, according to Communist Party daily Granma. The news comes two days after President Raúl Castro fired the minister responsible for the area amid increasing rumours that foreign investors will be invited to take over the industry.
Friday, May 7th 2010 - 21:34 UTC
Honduran President Calls Brazil “Arrogant”, Steps Down from Latam/EU Summit

Honduran president Porfirio Lobo will not attend the LAC-EU summit in Spain later this month, after South American leaders who do not recognize him as his country's legitimate leader threatened to pull out. However, he will attend the EU/Central America meeting, which will be held a day later.
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.
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 - 19:32 UTC
Spain Excludes Honduran President from Summit on Pressure from UNASUR

Only days after several UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) representatives said they would not attend the Sixth Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union Summit if Honduran President Porfirio Lobo was invited, the Spanish Government has decided to exclude him from the meeting, according to sources in the Brazilian Government.