Latin America

• Thursday, April 16th 2009 - 04:18 UTC

  Panama Canal transit falls modestly in spite of global crisis

  

  Transits of the Panama Canal slipped 1.4% in the Canal’s second fiscal quarter, according to the Panama Canal Authority (PCA). A total of 3,914 ships passed through the Canal from January through March.

• Thursday, April 16th 2009 - 03:49 UTC

  Obama and Unasur presidents to meet Saturday in Trinidad Tobago

  

  United States president Barack Obama wishes to meet with his peers from the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR next Saturday on the sidelines of the fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad Tobago.

• Thursday, April 16th 2009 - 01:24 UTC

  Valparaiso port expects less cruise activity next season

  

  Chile’s Valparaiso port authorities confirmed that 15 cruise voyages that were planning to visit the port next season have now been suspended. Making matters even worse, vacation cruise companies Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Discovery confirmed they no longer plan to dock in Chile because of high operational costs.

• Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 10:47 UTC

  Summit of the Americas, “test of intelligence and shame” says Fidel Castro

  

  Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said on Tuesday Cuba had no desire to rejoin the “infamous” and “vile” decadent Organization of American States, and said the coming Summit of the Americas next week end in Trinidad Tobago will be “a test of intelligence and shame”.

• Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 09:05 UTC

  Bolivia expects 17% oil tax and royalties revenue drop in 2009

  

  Bolivia is forecasting a 17% fall in its hydrocarbons tax and royalties revenues because of the fall in the international price of gas and oil sold to Argentina and Brazil according to official reports.

• Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 09:02 UTC

  Colombia to explore for oil offshore Brazil

  

  Colombian state-owned oil company Ecopetrol S.A. said Tuesday it signed an agreement with US-based Anadarko Petroleum Coporation to explore for crude oil off the coast of Brazil. Ecopetrol's subsidiary in Brazil will hold a 50% stake in block BMC-29, the company said in a statement.

• Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 08:53 UTC

  Peruvian government firm on its anti insurgency policy

  

  The Peruvian government defended its offensive against the remnants of the once-powerful insurgency “Shinning Path” as armed forces searched for a soldier reported missing following rebel ambushes that killed more than a dozen people last week.

• Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 08:48 UTC

  Obama leaves for Mexico and prepares for regional summit test

  

  United States President Barack Obama heads to Mexico Thursday and then continues on to Trinidad and Tobago for the fifth Summit of the Americas. Security concerns along the US-Mexico border are expected to top Mr. Obama's discussions with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, while the summit provides an opportunity to reinvigorate the US hemispheric ties and forge a regional response to the global economic downturn, according to a Voice of America report.

• Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 08:40 UTC

  Bolivia opens three indigenous universities

  

  The Bolivian government has opened three indigenous universities for Aymaras, Quechuas and Guaranis, and they will be linked to social movements, Education Minister Roberto Aguilar said

• Wednesday, April 15th 2009 - 08:38 UTC

  Ecuador grew 6.5% in 2008; forecasts 2.5% in 2009

  

  Ecuador President Rafael Correa said that his country’s economic growth in 2008, which according to the latest estimates was 6.5%, was among Latin America’s highest despite the international financial crisis -- and despite defaulting on a portion of the nation's international debt.