Latin America

• Monday, July 27th 2009 - 12:23 UTC

  Castro announces second belt tightening and calls on Cubans to work the land

  

  On the 56th anniversary of the start of the Cuban Revolution, the message from President Raul Castro was not at all celebratory: the country must prepare for a second round of belt tightening because of the global financial crisis and promoting agriculture and food production is a “strategic priority”.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 11:50 UTC

  Mercosur warns it rejects any attempt to call new elections in Honduras

  

  As was anticipated Mercosur released a strong condemnation of the Honduran de facto government and demanded the immediate reinstatement of constitutional president Manuel Zelaya.

• Saturday, July 25th 2009 - 10:39 UTC

  Ousted president Zelaya completes symbolic crossing into Honduras

  

  The ousted president of Honduras briefly crossed on Friday the country's border with Nicaragua, in a symbolic move that United States described as “reckless”.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:17 UTC

  Uruguay, Chile, Argentina less insecure than the rest of the continent

  

  Uruguay, Chile and Argentina have lower levels of insecurity than the rest of Latinamerica according to secretary general of the Organization of American States Miguel Insulza who said he was against more severe punishments as a strategy to improve security.

• Friday, July 24th 2009 - 14:06 UTC

  Ambassador “recovers” Honduras embassy in Mexico for Zelaya

  

  Honduran diplomat Rosalinda Bueso Asfura recovered Wednesday control of the Honduras embassy in Mexico City which had been taken over by adepts to the de facto government of interim President Roberto Micheletti.

• Thursday, July 23rd 2009 - 15:00 UTC

  Mediators say Zelaya must return to Honduras Friday

  

  Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya should return home on Friday, mediators in the crisis have said. But the country's interim authorities, who removed him, have said they will not bow to international demands for his reinstatement.

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 13:51 UTC

  Expelled Venezuelan diplomats challenge Honduras de facto government

  

  Venezuelan diplomats rejected comminatory orders to abandon Honduras in 72 hours saying their expulsion was decided by an illegitimate government which is not recognized by the administration of President Hugo Chavez.

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 08:31 UTC

  Growing number of Chileans opting for domestic tourism

  

  Given current health and budget concerns, fewer Chileans are travelling abroad these days. Domestic tourism, however, continues to be a booming internal industry.

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 08:28 UTC

  Brazil tells Hillary of dissatisfaction with Arias mediation in Honduras crisis

  

  Brazilian Foreign Affairs Minister Celso Amorim phoned last weekend US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was in New Delhi, India, to “express concern” about the slow pace and handling of the negotiations for the reinstatement of the democratic order in Honduras, reports Folha do Sao Paulo.

• Wednesday, July 22nd 2009 - 08:25 UTC

  Nicaraguan opposition condemns President Ortega’s re-election appeal

  

  Nicaraguan opposition members in Congress condemned this week a public appeal for constitutional changes by President Daniel Ortega as an attempt to extend term limits and eventually allow the populist leader's re-election.