Latin America

Friday, August 7th 2009 - 11:32 UTC
Chilean “tsunami” at wine contest in Santiago

Chilean winemakers nearly swept an international wine contest in July, winning all but a few accolades at the event. The contest, Vinalies Cata d’or América Latina 2009, was held at the Hyatt Hotel in Santiago The competition, put on by Italy, Spain and Portugal, as well as Brazil, Uruguay and Bolivia.
Friday, August 7th 2009 - 07:05 UTC
Chavez claims US forces in Colombia are a step toward war

US plans to deploy extra forces at seven Colombian bases could be a step toward war in South America claimed Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez who called on US President Barack Obama not to increase US presence in Colombia.
Friday, August 7th 2009 - 07:00 UTC
Petrobras begins operations in Chile and targets 20% of fuels’ market

Brazilian government controlled Petrobras entered the Chilean fuel distribution market in Chile with the inauguration Tuesday of a service station in Santiago. The company paid 400 million US dollars for US-based Exxon-Mobil’s stake in Esso Chile Petrolera and other units in the Andean nation and has targeted a 20% share of the market.
Thursday, August 6th 2009 - 23:19 UTC
Ten years of Plan Colombia and the next ten years

Colombia is likely to become the regional hub for the Pentagon’s Latin American activities and its Fort Apache as US and Colombia near a cooperation agreement that would expand US military presence in the country.
Thursday, August 6th 2009 - 16:53 UTC
Chile respects Colombia’s “sovereign” decision on military relations with US

Chile respects Colombia's “sovereign” decision to allow the US to use Colombian military bases for counter-narcotics operations in the region, the country's foreign Minister said Wednesday.
Thursday, August 6th 2009 - 16:43 UTC
Russia sells Bolivia presidential aircraft similar to that of Putin

Bolivia signed this week an agreement with Russia for the purchase of a presidential jet plus military equipment and logistics backup, financed in the first leg with a 100 million US dollars credit, announced Defence minister Walker San Miguel.
Thursday, August 6th 2009 - 16:38 UTC
Argentina tries to replace Colombia as supplier of vehicles to Venezuela

Argentina's car and car part manufacturers will travel to Venezuela next week to attempt to capitalize on Venezuela decision to cancel imports from neighboring Colombia. The trade mission will be led by Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, the Production Minister said in a press release Wednesday.
Thursday, August 6th 2009 - 16:33 UTC
Morales apologizes to Chile and Argentina over political comments

Bolivian president Evo Morales apologized to Chile and Argentina over his comments that the hard right could return to rule in both countries and which Santiago considered “interference in internal affairs”.
Thursday, August 6th 2009 - 16:30 UTC
First Chilean Cup soccer game played in Easter Island

Chile’s top league team Colo Colo easily defeated Rapa Nui in the first official match in Easter Island. The Chilean heavyweights won the Chilean Cup match 4-0. The locals, who didn't count with any professional footballers, but artisans, fishermen and dancers, played a decent game but were, as was expected, outplayed.
Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 13:09 UTC
US military forces in Colombia included in Unasur’s agenda

The deployment of US military personnel in Colombian bases and its implication for the region has been included in the agenda of the Union of South American Nations, Unasur, which convenes this week in Quito, Ecuador, according to the country’s Foreign Affairs minister Fander Falconi.