Latin America

• Thursday, December 3rd 2009 - 08:27 UTC

  Venezuela shuts down banks belonging to former Chavez crony

  

  The Venezuelan government has shut down four private banks, accusing them of financial irregularities. The closures come 10 days after the authorities took over the banks on suspicion of violating regulations.

• Thursday, December 3rd 2009 - 00:55 UTC

  Brazil to reconsider the latest events in Honduras

  

  Brasilia runs the risk of “isolation” if it does not recognize Honduras presidential elections according to Brazilian member of Congress Raul Jungmann, the only representative from his country to be part of an observers’ international committee on Sunday’s ballot.

• Thursday, December 3rd 2009 - 00:51 UTC

  Zelaya calls on Latinamerican leaders to reject Honduras Sunday elections

  

  Ousted Honduras President Manuel Zelaya sent a letter to Latinamerican leaders asking them to reject elections held under the de facto regime that decided his arrest and forced exile to Costa Rica June 28.

• Wednesday, December 2nd 2009 - 12:58 UTC

  Spanish Judge Demands US$77 Million From Pinochet’s Wife And Advisers

  

  Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon on Monday demanded that the widow and advisors of former Chilean Dictator Augusto Pinochet pay US$77 million to a Spanish charity for his regime’s victims within the next 10 days.

• Wednesday, December 2nd 2009 - 12:31 UTC

  Magallanes region unemployment remains steady above 8%

  

  Magallanes Region in the extreme south of Chile has dropped from fourth to sixth place in the ranking of regions with the least unemployment, according to the latest release which shows the rate jumped to 8.2% in the August-October quarter. This represents a 6.5 percentage point increase over the same period a year ago and half a point compared to the previous July-September quarter.

• Wednesday, December 2nd 2009 - 05:36 UTC

  Chile promotes domestic travel to help depressed tourism industry

  

  In an attempt to survive the economic crisis and the depreciating US dollar, Chile’s tourism industry has amplified national travel promotions targeting local and foreign vacationers.

• Tuesday, December 1st 2009 - 11:05 UTC

  Ibero-American summit divided over the Honduras political situation

  

  Portugal's Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Amado said on Monday that Portugal is working as a mediator among Ibero-American countries to achieve a consensus on the Honduras political situation that is threatening the 19th summit’s final declaration.

• Tuesday, December 1st 2009 - 08:34 UTC

  Lobo wins Honduran election and calls for “national unity dialogue”

  

  Honduras conservative presidential candidate Porfirio Lobo declared Monday he won Sunday’s elections while his main contender accepted defeat and de facto president Roberto Micheletti announced he was ready to hand power and step down.

• Tuesday, December 1st 2009 - 07:31 UTC

  Bolivia’s Morales and opposition fighting for control of Senate next Sunday

  

  Bolivian president Evo Morales is set to win next Sunday’s general election and could even manage 24 of the 36 Senate seats thus ensuring the full control of the future Pluri-national Legislative Assembly, according to the latest opinion polls.

• Monday, November 30th 2009 - 12:47 UTC

  Hondurans voted on Sunday but legitimacy of results remains unknown

  

  Honduran cattle rancher Porfirio Lobo apparently won the presidency of the Central American country that is trying to overcome a five-month political crisis and rebuild its economy, according to exit polls and preliminary results released by television and radio stations.