Latin America

• Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Chile ready to announce electricity saving measures

  Depleted reservoirs, the recent closure of a major generating plant and an expected consumption surge in March have Chilean authorities concerned about Chile's ability to meet its growing electricity needs.

• Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Multiple factors in '02 collapse of Larsen B shelf say scientists

  

  Two scientists have claimed that climate change was not the only cause of the collapse of a 500 billion tons ice shelf in Antarctica six years ago. The 200 meters thick, 3.250 square kilometers Larsen B shelf broke apart in March 2002.

• Thursday, February 7th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Colombian Defense Minister says ties with Israel are strong

  

  Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos on Thursday praised his country's long defense relationship with Israel, saying he sought to boost it further by setting up a bilateral fund for technological research and development.

• Wednesday, February 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Latin America Seeks Trade Alternatives

  The decline of U.S. “soft power” in South America has encouraged increased trade relations with other partners, including more arms trading, as well as rejection of U.S. calls for a shift away from conventional military to “constabulary” forces.

• Wednesday, February 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Peru en route to become significant LN gas exporter

  

  Peru's liquefied natural gas exporting project will receive a 300 million US dollars loan from the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank, reported the bank.

• Wednesday, February 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Gay marriages and end to travel restrictions in Cuba?

  

  A Cuban minister who accepts gay marriages and a world known revolution-faithful musician hopeful that traveling permits for Cubans wishing to leave or travel to the island are finally eliminated, seem to be evidence of a new tolerant environment in the continent's longest lasting dictatorship.

• Tuesday, February 5th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Strong earthquake shakes Peru-Chile border

  

  A strong earthquake, centered in the Andes mountains, struck Chile Monday afternoon near its borders with Peru and Bolivia.

• Monday, February 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuelan military 'on alert' for possible Colombian threat

  

  President Hugo Chavez said Venezuela's military is on alert for possible threats from Colombia, warning the neighbouring government not to try to stir up an armed conflict.

• Monday, February 4th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Colombians protest for end to FARC rebellion

  

  Millions of Colombians dressed in white marched throughout the country and in major cities worldwide today to express outrage at 40 years of violence and kidnapping by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.

• Sunday, February 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Help for Chilean exporters to counter US dollar meltdown

  

  Chile announced several measures to prop the competitiveness of Chilean exports that have been particularly affected by the international collapse of the US dollar and which has motivated reiterated claims from the industry.