Latin America

• Friday, May 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Punta Arenas Methanex plans to cut Argentine gas dependency

  

  Canada's Methanex, the world's leading producer of methanol and which has a gigantic plant in Punta Arenas expects to break its Argentina natural gas dependency sometime in the next three years, and concentrate on Chilean supplies, said Bruce Aitken, the company's CEO.

• Friday, May 4th 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  South American countries agree creation of development bank

  

  The Finance and Economy ministers from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Venezuela decided Thursday in Quito the creation in parallel of a development bank and a macroeconomic stabilization fund to support financially the region.

• Thursday, May 3rd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Cuban forces foil attempt to hijack a civilian aircraft

  

  Fugitive Cuban army recruits killed a military officer they took hostage early Thursday in a failed attempt to hijack a plane bound for the United States according to a release from the Interior Ministry. Two of the escaped recruits were arrested after Army Lt. Col. Victor Ibo Acuña Velazquez was killed in the aborted hijacking.

• Wednesday, May 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean salmon magnate promotes Patagonia tourism industry

  

  Chilean businessman Víctor Hugo Puchi, owner of the very successful farmed salmon company AquaChile, is setting his sights on southern Chile's growing tourism industry.

• Wednesday, May 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  US regional offensive in support of free trade agreements

  

  United States Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte warned Wednesday that rejection by the Democrat controlled Congress of free trade agreements with Colombia, Peru and Panama would mean a serious blow for Washington's interests in the region.

• Wednesday, May 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Chavez completes re-nationalization of oil reserves

  

  Venezuela took control of the Orinoco oil installations on May first completing the process of “re-nationalization” of the nation's oil reserves. President Hugo Chávez led celebrations of the takeover of the Orinoco Oil Belt which could convert Venezuela into the country with the largest oil reserves.

• Wednesday, May 2nd 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Bolivia takes control of oil and gas industry

  

  Bolivia's government owned energy company YPFB took control on Wednesday of the country's oil and gas industry after a dozen oil companies, including Repsol YPF SA, British Gas, Total and Petrobras signed new contracts today.

• Tuesday, May 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Venezuela Set To Gain Control Of Its Oil Fields

  

  Venezuela's military might will be on full display on Tuesday as Hugo Chávez, the country's president and a former paratrooper, celebrates winning back Venezuela's natural resources in the oil-rich Orinoco for the people.

• Tuesday, May 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  South America's power players jockey for regional position

  Known for military strongmen, Latin America has mostly embraced peace since the end of the 1980s era of right-wing dictatorships. Now flush with profits from a commodities boom, however, many Latin American countries are beefing up their military capabilities as they seek to ascend the ranks of regional power players.

• Tuesday, May 1st 2007 - 21:00 UTC

  Santiago de Chile skies reach dangerous levels pollution

  Santiaguinos stuck in the city for the long weekend faced the first environmental alerts of the year after an increased level of air contamination was detected on Friday night. The contamination alerts were issued for Saturday and Sunday.