Latin America

• Wednesday, February 18th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Ocean Nova passengers safely en route to Ushuaia

  

  All 65 passengers on board M/V Ocean Nova which run aground during an Antarctic cruise were safely transferred Wednesday afternoon to M/V Clipper Adventurer, which is currently sailing for Ushuaia, Argentina, reported the Argentine Navy and operator Quark expeditions.

• Tuesday, February 17th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  “Civic spirit” of Venezuela's vote praised by US

  The United States cautiously welcomed Venezuela's Sunday referendum vote to scrap limits on how often politicians, including President Hugo Chavez, can run for office.

• Monday, February 16th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela's Chavez wins unlimited re-election vote

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has won the Sunday referendum to eliminate term limits, paving the way for a new re-election in 2012 - and beyond - and push through his vision of a Socialist nation

• Monday, February 16th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean opposition presidential candidate ahead in polls

  

  The Chilean Concertación ruling coalition official presidential candidate Eduardo Frei would stand eight points behind conservative presidential hopeful Sebastián Piñera in the event of a run off next January, (following December's first round) according to TNS-Time public opinion poll taken between January 12 and 31st.

• Monday, February 16th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Evo Morales in Moscow to sign gas development deal

  

  Evo Morales has become the first Bolivian President to visit Russia, after touching down in Moscow on Sunday. Morales is expected to sign crucial natural gas cooperation agreements and seek aid to combat drugs.
  
  The visit is also viewed as another sign of Russia's increased interest in Latin America.
  
  Morales told reporters on Friday that he would discuss the immediate purchase of helicopters and loans of other aircraft to fight coca production when he visits Russia.

• Monday, February 16th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivarian leader Chavez day-after financial challenges

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's overwhelming victory in Sunday's referendum which enables him to run again in 2012, and successively to ensure the mounting of the Bolivarian Socialist revolution, is bound to experience the day-after hang over given the country's economy dependence on oil.

• Monday, February 16th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile with World Bank support turns to wind energy

  

  The World Bank Group is sponsoring with 61.5 million US dollars the construction of the first wind farm in Chile, advancing the development of renewable energy in Chile.

• Sunday, February 15th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador defers (”illegitimate) bonds' interest payments

  

  Ecuador won't pay bondholders 135 million US dollars in interest while it decides whether to default on a significant percentage of its foreign debt, deemed “illegitimate” by in audit, said on Saturday Finance minister Maria Elisa Viteri.

• Saturday, February 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela: incident with Spain before crucial referendum

  Spain said on Saturday it was preparing an official complaint against Venezuela's decision to deport a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for criticising the Venezuelan electoral commission.

• Saturday, February 14th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile annoyed with Fidel's “meddling” reflections

  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said on Saturday she was annoyed at “meddling” comments by former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who wrote in an article that Chile snatched Bolivia's only sea access in the 19th century.