Latin America

Monday, June 14th 2010 - 04:08 UTC
Colombian forces liberate two top police forces help as hostages for 12 years

The Colombian military on Sunday rescued Gen. Luis Mendieta and Col. Enrique Murillo, two top national police officers held by the FARC guerrillas for nearly 12 years, President Alvaro Uribe announced.
Sunday, June 13th 2010 - 03:23 UTC
Mrs. Clinton promises to sponsor US/Colombia trade agreement

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised this week after meeting with Colombian president Alvaro Uribe that when she returns to Washington she will begin “a very intensive effort to try to obtain the votes to get the free trade agreement with Colombia finally ratified”.
Sunday, June 13th 2010 - 01:20 UTC
In the even of Vatican top official visit, Cuba frees paraplegic political dissident

The Cuban government has freed a jailed dissident and moved six others to jails closer to their homes. Senior Catholic clergymen had urged Cuban president Raul Castro to release Ariel Sigler, 47, on humanitarian grounds.
Friday, June 11th 2010 - 23:23 UTC
Chilean Senators want International Whaling Commissioner ousted

Chilean senators Juan Pablo Letelier and Guido Girardi met this week with the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Fernando Schmidt, to plead the removal of Chilean Cristián Maquieira from his position as chairman of the International Whaling Commission.
Friday, June 11th 2010 - 23:16 UTC
Catholic Church expects more gestures from Raul Castro on political prisoners

Cuban Catholic church said this week that it expects the government of Raul Castro to make more gestures favouring political prisoners, although it added that in that “process” no fixed dates have been set for particular actions.
Friday, June 11th 2010 - 20:53 UTC
Piñera announces huge investments in the state-run copper industry

Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has announced plans to invest 15 billion US dollars in Codelco, the state-owned copper company. Speaking to an audience of workers, managers and executives at a mine in Calama earlier this week, Piñera said the investment would bring about “a renaissance and a new youth to Codelco”.
Friday, June 11th 2010 - 06:20 UTC
Venezuela suspends power rationing in the eve of the World Cup

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez suspended a national electricity rationing plan, saying that the grid had been strengthened by new investments in thermoelectric plants and heavy rains that filled up reservoirs. He also wants Venezuelans to watch the World Cup in South Africa.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 23:57 UTC
Argentina ratifies adhesion to Unasur following unanimous vote in Congress

Argentina ratified this week the adhesion to the South American Nations Union (Unasur) Treaty, following a unanimous vote in the Lower House of Congress. The Senate had already approved the initiative.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 22:18 UTC
Book on Chavez in prison, “I saw him cry”, triggers controversy

A Venezuelan historian and academic presented the book ‘I saw him cry’ in which he affirms that President Hugo Chavez was crying, fearful and pleading to be sent to Cuba on April 11, 2002 during the coup that had him out of office for several days. He also insists there was no plan to have Chavez shot by a firing squad as the ‘official version” of events has since turned into epic days.
Thursday, June 10th 2010 - 18:30 UTC
Chile ski resorts still waiting for snow to begin winter season

Though Chilean ski resorts were ready to begin the winter season more than a week ago, the slopes cannot be opened due to lack of snow. A lack of rain in the region has been blamed. The central and southern region of Chile has had a low level of rain this year, causing opening delays for some centres.