Latin America

Monday, June 20th 2011 - 05:37 UTC
Chilean volcanic ash cloud affects flights in South Africa

The ash cloud from the Chilean Volcano Puyehue-Cordón Caulle in eruption since June 4 has reached Cape Town airspace affecting flights in and out of Cape Town International Airport.
Saturday, June 18th 2011 - 03:19 UTC
In milestone vote UN Human Rights Council approves gay rights

Despite strong opposition from Arab and African states, the UN Human Rights Council voted 23-19 in favor of a history-making resolution that supports equal rights for everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Saturday, June 18th 2011 - 01:04 UTC
Uruguayan lawmakers mark the difference between “terrorism” and “armed insurgency”

A group of Uruguayan lawmakers have written a letter to Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala requesting a more humane treatment for Victor Polay Campos, head of the guerrilla Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, MRTA, jailed since 1992.
Friday, June 17th 2011 - 16:43 UTC
Venezuelan billionaire teams up with Chinese banks to invest in Latam

Venezuelan billionaire Gustavo Cisneros is setting up joint ventures with Chinese banks to carry out investment in Latin American commodities industries.
Friday, June 17th 2011 - 16:33 UTC
Peru cancels construction of Amazon dams; major setback for Brazil

Peruvian environmentalists have welcomed a decision by the country's Energy Ministry to cancel the development of the 1.5GW Inambari Dam in the Amazon basin.
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 13:26 UTC
Banco do Brasil plans to expand into Chile, Peru and Colombia

Banco do Brasil, Latin America’s biggest bank by assets, is considering buying lenders in Colombia, Peru and Chile to attract corporate clients and increase business with Brazilian companies in the region. Last month the bank announced the reopening of its branch in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Thursday, June 16th 2011 - 06:14 UTC
Humala announces an “open channel of direct communication” with Chile

Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala highlighted the “open channel of direct communication” established with Chile and President Sebastian Piñera following a two hour meeting on Wednesday between the two leaders in Santiago’s presidential palace.
Wednesday, June 15th 2011 - 23:35 UTC
Argentina’s official May ‘fantasy’ inflation 0.7%; private consultants, 1.5%

Inflation in Argentina reached 0.7% in May compared to the volume reported in the previous month, the Indec national statistics bureau announced on Wednesday. The official rate is less than half what was presented on Tuesday by opposition lawmakers, which they assured reached 1.5% and 23% in the last twelve months.
Wednesday, June 15th 2011 - 22:02 UTC
End of intense La Niña cycle anticipates return to average rainfall in Chile

The most intense La Niña climate pattern since 1975 is coming to a close in Chile, after it cooled water temperatures off the Pacific coast of South America and left a troubling drought in its wake.
Wednesday, June 15th 2011 - 19:27 UTC
Energy rich Venezuela, short in power and forced to ration electricity

Big electricity users in Venezuela have been told to cut consumption or face increased charges. Consumers who save energy will be in line for discounts, officials said. The move comes after a series of recent power failures, the most recent last Friday and Saturday when outages affected most of western Venezuela.