Latin America

• Sunday, November 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Bolivian president suspends US anti-drug efforts

  

  Bolivian President Evo Morales yesterday suspended operations by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, an agency he has accused of spying and helping to destabilize his government.

• Sunday, November 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  For delaying new oil contract, Repsol is ousted from Ecuador

  Ecuador has told Spanish-Argentine oil company Repsol YPF to leave the country after having refused to accept a government demand to change the contract which enables it to extract 60.000 bpd.

• Friday, October 31st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Sky Airline and Air Comet consolidate flights to Pta. Arenas

  

  Air Comet which has been flying to Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile since December 2004 will cease to operate in the area after having reached a commercial and operational alliance with Sky Airline.

• Friday, October 31st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Magallanes region has lowest unemployment in Chile with 1.7%

  Unemployment in Chile's extreme south region of Magallanes remained almost unchanged during the third quarter confirming it as the lowest in the country with 1.7%, compared to the national average of 7.8%.

• Friday, October 31st 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Academic accord to promote coastal fisheries in P. Arenas

  Universidad del Mar (University of the Sea), a private institution from Punta Arenas inaugurated this week its new facilities plus the signing of an academic cooperation agreement with Chile's Fisheries Department to promote the industry in Magallanes, particularly small scale undertakings.

• Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chavez has his own Chinese built, launched satellite

  

  The first Venezuelan telecommunications satellite was launched Wednesday from the western Chinese province of Sichuan. The 3.1 ton satellite, named after Latin American liberator Simon Bolivar, was built by China at a cost of 406 million dollars and puts Venezuela in the region's space club which includes Brazil and Argentina.

• Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Favourable 2009 beef export prospects for Brazil and Argentina

  

  Beef exports are forecast to rise nearly 2% during 2009 as gains by Brazil, Argentina and the United States outweigh downturns in Australian and New Zealand shipments according to the US Cattle network

• Thursday, October 30th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Absences and late arrivers mark summit in El Salvador

  

  The current global economic and financial crisis overshadowed the official agenda of the 18th Ibero American two-day summit in El Salvador which ends on Friday.

• Wednesday, October 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Mexico approves opening oil industry to private sector

  

  In a turbulent session, the Mexican Congress Tuesday approved seven bills reforming the state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), which holds a monopoly on the industry, to allow participation by private international firms.

• Wednesday, October 29th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Latam markets follow on W. Street and Fed's expected cut

  

  Major Latinamerican markets recovered strongly Tuesday as investors in the region and on Wall Street set aside worries about global recession to take part in a buying spree convinced that the Fed would announce further interest rate cuts on Wednesday.