Latin America

• Tuesday, July 31st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Latinamerica energy future is promising but autarchic

  

  Latinamerica is set to invest 267 billion US dollars in energy projects in the next two decades according to the United Nations Economic Committee for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, CEPAL.

• Monday, July 30th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Magallanes children among the most obese of Chile

  According to a survey carried out by the Chilean Association of School Assistance and Scholarships (Junaeb) 19.4% of Chileans between the ages 9 and 11, are obese. This is particularly severe in the extreme south of the country where it affects 25% of children.

• Saturday, July 28th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Lan Chile Q2 profits soar 158% over a year ago

  

  Chilean airline LAN has exceeded all expectations with a 158.9% rise in second-quarter net profits, as compared with the same period last year.

• Saturday, July 28th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez claims partners have “frozen” his huge gas pipeline project

  

  Venezuela's Hugo Chavez said he felt disappointed that his jumbo gas pipeline proposal to supply the South American continent had been “frozen” by several of the potential beneficiaries of the multi billion project.

• Saturday, July 28th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Volatility hits regional sovereign bonds risk assessment

  

  Chile's country risk assessment shot this week to its highest level since August 2003 but is still the lowest in Latinamerica. International volatility with investors selling stocks and higher risk bonds and moving into more stable US bonds is seen as the cause behind the events of last week.

• Tuesday, July 24th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Methanex in Punta Arenas will search for its own natural gas

  The world's leading and largest producer of methanol, Methanex Corporation said Monday that it had joined Wintersall from Germanay and GeoPark Holdings to bid for natural gas concessions in the extreme south of Chile.

• Tuesday, July 24th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez to sign air defense contracts with Byelorussia

  Venezuela and Byelorussia will be signing military contracts for over a billion US dollars before the end of July announced the chair of the Byelorussian Security Council who also heads the bilateral economic cooperation committee.

• Tuesday, July 24th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez and crime feeds growing Venezuelan exodus

  

  Political uncertainty and crime are scaring thousands of Venezuelans from their country who are looking for better opportunities overseas according to Mequieroir.com, (iwanttoleave.com) web site which advises people who want to leave the country.

• Monday, July 23rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Peru celebrates “Pisco Day” and revives origin dispute

  

  Peru celebrated Sunday “Pisco Day” promising to improve the quality of the grape distilled alcohol, but above all defend its domestic origin form neighboring Chile, which also claims such a title. The dispute has reached the World Organization of Intellectual Property.

• Monday, July 23rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez has plans to remain in office 22 years, until 2021

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said he believes unlimited terms in office should only be granted to the president - not to the governors and mayors of Venezuela. If so Chavez could remain in office for 22 years until 2021.