Latin America

• Tuesday, May 5th 2009 - 11:08 UTC

  Mexico announces reopening of schools, gradually returns to normality

  

  Mexican officials lowered the influenza A (H1N1) virus alert level in the capital on Monday and said they will allow universities, cafes, museums and libraries to reopen this week, even as the number of confirmed cases topped 1,200 worldwide.

• Tuesday, May 5th 2009 - 10:49 UTC

  Panamanian president elect compared to Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi

  

  Panama president-elect and supermarket tycoon Ricardo Martinelli, 57, of Italian origin has been compared to the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi by Panamanian media and political analysts.

• Tuesday, May 5th 2009 - 08:10 UTC

  Head of British Army on three day official visit to Chile

  

  British Armed Forces Chief of the General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt begun on Monday an official three-day visit to Chile invited by the Chilean Army.

• Tuesday, May 5th 2009 - 08:00 UTC

  Iranian president postpones visit to South American countries

  

  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cancelled on Monday a trip to Brazil this week without explanation amid criticism in Teheran from the country’s clerical leader and US concern about Iran’s growing influence in Latin America.

• Monday, May 4th 2009 - 11:03 UTC

  Conservative businessman elected president in Panama

  

  Panamanian opposition leader and supermarket mogul Ricardo Martinelli has won Panama's presidential election, the head of the country's electoral tribunal said Sunday. Martinelli, of the conservative Democratic Change party, edged out former Housing Minister Balbina Herrera of Panama's ruling Democratic Revolutionary Party, said Erasmo Pinilla of the electoral tribunal.

• Monday, May 4th 2009 - 08:56 UTC

  Flu outbreak becomes excuse for trade and tourism restrictions

  

  Three countries worst hit by the global swine flu outbreak have urged economic partners not to allow it to affect international trade. Agricultural ministers from Canada, Mexico and the US said the outbreak should not be used as a reason for unnecessary trade restrictions.

• Monday, May 4th 2009 - 08:33 UTC

  Former US president Jimmy Carter honoured in Sao Paulo

  

  Former US president and Nobel Peace Prize Jimmy Carter was honoured Sunday by the governor of Brazil’s powerhouse state Sao Paulo for his contributions to the development of the state.

• Monday, May 4th 2009 - 07:58 UTC

  Unemployment in Magallanes region soars in first quarter

  

  Unemployment in the extreme south Chilean region of Magallanes more than doubled during this year’s first quarter having reached 5.6% compared to the same period a year ago according to the latest official Statistics Office release.

• Monday, May 4th 2009 - 07:45 UTC

  Iranian president visits South America; US calls it “disturbing”

  

  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad begins this week a tour of South America visiting three countries, Brazil, Ecuador and Venezuela, reported Iranian Foreign Affairs minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

• Sunday, May 3rd 2009 - 12:13 UTC

  Spread of flu is slowing down in Mexico reports WHO

  

  The World Health Organization (WHO) says the H1N1 flu virus continues to spread around the world, with the number of confirmed cases reaching 615, in 17 countries. WHO officials say they expect to raise their alert to the highest level but experts say the spread of the flu is slowing down in Mexico, where the outbreak started.