Latin America

• Monday, February 26th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile faces rich world evils: 25% of population is obese

  Obesity and related pathologies like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart attacks cost the Chilean treasury an estimated 300 million US dollars which is equivalent to a significant percentage of the country's overall public health budget.

• Monday, February 26th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez “can scare away” investors from South America

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez can scare away investors in South America, who may prefer to invest in other regions, US Ambassador to Brazil, Clifford Sobel, told to Exame magazine 10 days before the arrival of US President George W. Bush to Sao Paulo.

• Friday, February 23rd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Impact of corn prices boom on other farming activities

  

  Corn grain prices have reached a historical level of 123 Chilean pesos, approximately 25 US cents per kilogram, a 73% rise from 2006 figures. This significant leap is a result of the growing ethanol production in the U.S. for which the cereal is essential.

• Friday, February 23rd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Anthrax outbreak in extreme Southern Chile village

  

  Chile's acting Agriculture minister Cecilia Leiva said on Friday health authorities are working “to minimize the risks” of an outbreak of anthrax in a small village of farmers and fishermen in the extreme south of the country.

• Thursday, February 22nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Menchu to run for president in Guatemala

  

  Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu on Wednesday announced that she will run for the presidency of Guatemala in the country's September elections, a move likely fuel talk about an Indian resurgence in Latin American politics.

• Thursday, February 22nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  LAN becomes majority holder of Argentine affiliate

  

  Chile's flag carrier LAN airlines increased the share of its Argentine affiliate to 70%, following 2006 reforms to the Argentine Aeronautical code authorizing foreigners to have a majority stake in commercial airlines, reports the Buenos Aires press.

• Thursday, February 22nd 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela offers financial support to Ecuador

  

  Venezuela has set aside 500 million US dollars for cooperation with Ecuador although how the financing would be extended has still not been decided, said Thursday Venezuelan Finance minister Rodrigo Cabezas.

• Wednesday, February 21st 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean salmon and trout exports reach 2.2 billion in 2006

  Chilean salmon and trout exports in 2006 totaled 2.207 billion US dollars, up 28% over 2005 according to the Salmon Industry Association, (SalmonChile). United States was the main market for Chilean salmon and trout overtaking Japan.

• Wednesday, February 21st 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Venezuela's Chavez grants Kirchner more financial support

  

  Argentina and Venezuela signed Wednesday several agreements establishing ever closer cooperation and financial links including a joint issue of a 1.5 billion US dollars Bond of the South.

• Tuesday, February 20th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Colombia names former hostage Foreign Affairs minister

  

  Colombian president Alvaro Uribe appointed Fernando Araújo Perdomo as Foreign Affairs minister, a former cabinet member who on December 31 escaped from six year guerrilla captivity.