Latin America

• Tuesday, March 9th 2010 - 19:03 UTC

  Immediate infrastructure reconstruction cost for Chile, 1.2 billion USD

  

  Chilean Public Works Minister Sergio Bitar estimated that the reconstruction and reparation of sidewalks, airports, canals, and other infrastructure works will cost around 1.2 billion US dollars, after the earthquake that devastated the nation. The quake was an 8.8 on the Richter scale.

• Tuesday, March 9th 2010 - 07:22 UTC

  Massive Chilean quake shifted whole cities including Santiago and Buenos Aires

  

  The massive magnitude 8.8 earthquake that struck the west coast of Chile last month moved the entire city of Concepcion at least 10 feet to the west, and shifted other parts of South America as far apart as the Falkland Islands and Fortaleza, Brazil according to a publication from the University of Ohio.

• Monday, March 8th 2010 - 10:46 UTC

  Chile Telethon Raises US$58 Million For Disaster Victims

  

  Around 10,000 volunteers in 400 locations across Chile united to raise funds for the earthquake stricken country over the weekend.

• Monday, March 8th 2010 - 09:22 UTC

  Latinamerica forecasted to expand 3% or more, this year

  

  The Latinamerican economy is poised to expand 3% or more in 2010, the year that will signal the beginning of recovery for the region according to the Inter American Development Bank, (IDB), President Luis Alberto Moreno.

• Monday, March 8th 2010 - 09:09 UTC

  Chavez incorporates ousted Zelaya to his payroll through Petrocaribe

  

  Ousted former Honduras President Manuel Zelaya has been appointed Head of a “Political Council” of Venezuelan energy consortium Petrocaribe which allows Caribbean and Central American nations to buy oil at a discount from Venezuela.

• Monday, March 8th 2010 - 07:29 UTC

  Chileans say government responded “late and inefficiently” to earthquake

  

  Most Chileans are unhappy with their government's response to the catastrophic earthquake and squarely blame President Michelle Bachelet for shortcomings, according to a poll published over the weekend.

• Monday, March 8th 2010 - 07:18 UTC

  Latam conservative parties encouraged with recent electoral victories

  

  Latinamerican conservative political parties meeting in Central America said there has been a set back for the left wing in the region following on the recent conservative electoral victories in Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras and Panama.

• Saturday, March 6th 2010 - 15:35 UTC

  Sails of South America 2010 from Buenos Aires head for Ushuaia

  

  Bicentennial celebrations winds arrived in Buenos Aires this week with the imposing figure of eleven tall ships, wonderfully crafted relics of the past that will be docked until next Tuesday when they sail on to the South Atlantic.

• Saturday, March 6th 2010 - 15:34 UTC

  Tsunami warning failure sweeps away with head of hydrographical office

  

  The head of Chile's hydrographical and oceanographic service has been sacked following the earthquake and tsunami that killed about 500 people last week.

• Saturday, March 6th 2010 - 12:09 UTC

  Strong 6.6 aftershock hits Chile’s most damaged area

  

  Another strong aftershock jolted Chile nearly a week after the deadly 8.8 magnitude earthquake caused widespread destruction. In the badly-hit city of Concepcion, some residents ran into the streets Friday as the magnitude 6.6 tremor shook the area.