Latin America

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.
Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 12:55 UTC
Morales nightmare: Chile’s “pinochetistas” and Argentine “fascists”

Bolivian president Evo Morales said he was quite concerned with the possibility that the “Pinochetistas” in Chile and the “fascist right” in Argentina could win the general elections in those countries, according to the country’s government news agency, ABI.
Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 12:43 UTC
Uribe tours South America in support for his military plans with the US

Colombian president Alvaro Uribe is visiting most South American countries to explain the extent of the understanding currently under discussion with Washington and which will enable an increase of US military personnel distributed in several Colombian bases, an initiative which has received strong reactions across the continent.
Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 07:11 UTC
Leopard tanks corruption in Chile jails two generals and summons ministers

Two retired Chilean army officers have been charged with accepting bribes for the purchase of Dutch armoured vehicles in 1998. The men are accused of taking a 600.000 US dollars bribe over the sale of 200 Leopard tanks.
Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 07:09 UTC
US forces in Colombian bases controversy overshadows regional military summit

United States General Douglas Fraser, in charge of US Southern Command operations covering South America said that there are good reasons for the deployment of US military units in Colombia bases, but also stressed that no final deal had yet been struck.
Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 06:59 UTC
Chavez condemns attack on television station as “counter revolutionary”

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez confirmed Tuesday that one of her militants Lina Ron was under arrest for having been involved in the Monday attack on the Globovision television station, an action which he also condemned.
Wednesday, August 5th 2009 - 00:43 UTC
Spider crab season kicks off in Punta Arenas; target 2.300 tons

The first boatloads of Magellan spider crabs (king crab) arrived in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile, late last week, marking the commencement of the 2009 spider crab season and the end of the National Fishing Service’s six month ban on hunting the prized crustaceans.