Latin America

Friday, August 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
LAN Chile's profits up 7.4% in spite of rising cost of fuel

Compared with this time last year, Chile-based LAN Airlines has seen a 7.4% increase in profits – despite the rising cost of gas, which accounts for 36% of the company's overall costs.
Friday, August 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
FAO rescues Peruvian alpacas suffering from cold spell

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has provided urgently needed medical supplies to poor farmers in the Peruvian highlands whose livestock are suffering as a result of a severe unseasonable cold spell, known locally as “El friaje.”
Friday, August 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Unemployment in Chile 8.5% but Magallanes 2.2%

Magallanes in the extreme south of Chile remained during the second quarter as the region with the lowest unemployment according to the latest release from the country's Statistics Institute, INE.
Friday, August 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chile expands list of infectious salmon anemia outbreaks

Chile's National Fishing Service (SERNAPESCA) has expanded its official list of Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) outbreak sites yet again, adding four Region X fish farms in its latest fortnightly report. ISA is a highly contagious virus that can be lethal to fish but does not affect humans.
Friday, August 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Banco Santander admits sale talks with Venezuelan gov.

Spanish bank Santander, one of Europe's leading financial institutions admitted holding talks to sell the bank it owns in Venezuela to the government. The announcement comes a day after President Hugo Chavez said he wanted to nationalize the institution which operates as Banco de Venezuela and has been in the country for over a century.
Friday, August 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Ecuador and Chile join to explore for gas in Guayaquil gulf

Ecuador government owned petroleum corporation Petroecuador announced this week the creation of a joint company with Chile's counterpart, ENAP, to explore for natural gas in the Guayaquil gulf.
Friday, August 1st 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Bolivia's recall vote confirmed in spite of controversy

A recall vote in Bolivia that could force out President Evo Morales and a group of opposition governors will go ahead on August 10 despite a possible change in voting rules, vice president Alvaro Garcia Linera said on Friday.
Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Chile-Australia sign comprehensive free trade agreement

Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley is currently in Australia today and on Wednesday will be signing in Canberra a Free Trade Agreement, plus another battery of accords with Australian authorities.
Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Oil exploration in Magallanes Region begins next month

Several international oil companies awarded exploration blocks in Chile's extreme southern Magallanes region should begin oil and gas exploration in August, the government said on Tuesday.
Wednesday, July 30th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Ecuador insists on deal to slash import tariffs on bananas

Ecuador, the world's top banana exporter, said it will insist that the European Union stick to a deal to slash import tariffs on bananas despite the collapse of world trade talks on Tuesday in Geneva.