Latin America

• Tuesday, January 13th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  China close to Latam: becomes formal member of IDB

  

  China formally joined the Inter-American Development Bank in a signing and flag placement ceremony held on Monday at the IDB's headquarters in Washington, DC. The Asian giant became the Bank's 48th member nation, contributing 350 million US dollars to various programs.

• Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela expels Israeli ambassador over Gaza bombing

  

  Venezuela expelled on Tuesday the Israeli ambassador to protest against the country's assault on Gaza, after the Venezuelan president described it as a “holocaust”.

• Wednesday, January 7th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Capsized yachtsman rescued by fellow competitor in C. Horn

  

  The French navigator whose yacht capsized in the extreme South Pacific during the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race was rescued Tuesday night by his friend, a fellow competitor, after he was trapped inside the hull of his upturned boat in heavy seas for 16 hours

• Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile's December inflation negative; twelve months, 7.1%

  Consumer inflation in Chile during December was negative, 1.2%, the lowest since 1996, helping the overall consumers' prices index (CPI) to close 2008 at 7.1%, according to the latest release from the country's Statistics Institute, INE.

• Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador to beef up patrolling along Colombian border

  

  Ecuador will implement this year a plan to reinforce its borders, particularly with Colombia, to eliminate the presence of guerrillas and irregular forces in its territory, announced the country's Defence minister Javier Ponce.

• Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  After twelve months opinion polls are smiling for Bachelet

  

  Chilean president Michelle Bachelet administration showed a positive public opinion assessment, for the first time in twelve months, according to the latest CEP polls published over the weekend.

• Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile massive stimulus plan has full political support

  

  Chile announced a stimulus plan increasing spending by four billion US dollars in an effort to create jobs and prop the economy. This means that for the first time in six years Chile will run a budget deficit, 2.9% of GDP.

• Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Chavez promises low oil prices will not stop the revolution

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez forecasted that the “unity” of the world's big producers of crude will restore stability to global petroleum markets and anticipated that even if the price of Venezuelan oil falls to zero, “the Bolivarian revolution will continue”.

• Tuesday, January 6th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  Rich Latin-Americans, leading banks caught in Madoff's net

  

  Wealthy Latin Americans are among the biggest victims of an alleged 50 billion US dollars Ponzi scheme orchestrated by financier Bernard Madoff, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

• Monday, January 5th 2009 - 20:00 UTC

  South Korea and Japan reopen markets to Chilean pork

  South Korea and Japan reopened their markets to Chilean pork, according to a release in Seoul from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.