Latin America

• Friday, February 16th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Mexican economy surprises and expands 4.8% in 2006

  

  Mexico's economy, Latinamerica's largest expanded 4.8% in 2006 compared to 2005 and the highest in six years reported the Finance Secretary in an official release.

• Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  EU Parliament votes against diverting farm subsidies

  A European Commission proposal that would have allowed Member States to divert some Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) direct farm payments to rural development spending was almost unanimously rejected by the European Parliament with 89 votes in favour, 584 votes against and 19 abstentions. The Commission must now decide if it will withdrawal the proposal.

• Thursday, February 15th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  “Chile and Peru should settle border issue by dialogue”

  

  Organization of American States (OAS) head José Miguel Insulza said that Chile and Peru should settle their differences over a recent border conflict via dialogue. At a visit to Lima for a meeting of Latin American countries involved in the peacekeeping process in Haiti, Insulza warned of the presence of radical sectors, or “hawks,” wishing to upset relations between the two countries.

• Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  White House lobbying Congress to approve free trade accords

  United States chief trade official Susan Schwab said the Bush administration is very anxious to see Congress vote for the free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia and Panama which have been stalled by Democrats' concerns over labor provisions.

• Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Dengue outbreak: UN forecasts “difficult year”

  

  The entire Latin America region needs to take preventive measures to prepare for what promises to be a “difficult year” for dengue fever following an outbreak of the mosquito-borne infection in Paraguay, United Nations health officials have warned.

• Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  UN hails 40 anniversary of Latam nuclear-weapon-free zone

  

  The historic pact of Latin America and the Caribbean States to maintain a nuclear-weapon-free zone, the first-ever of its kind, has withstood the test of time and should spur greater efforts to rid the world of these arms, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday in honoring the 40th anniversary of the landmark agreement.

• Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  UN aid to 200.000 Bolivians victims of El Niño floods

  

  In the wake of an appeal by the President of Bolivia for international assistance, United Nations agencies are stepping up aid to people in the country devastated by flooding, hail and freeze which have affected 200,000 and killed more than 20.

• Wednesday, February 14th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Another record year for Lan with profits up 64% in 2006

  

  Chile's flag carrier LAN Airlines announced on Wednesday net profits of 241 million US dollars in 2006, up 64.4% over the 147 million US dollars of 2005.

• Tuesday, February 13th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador's Congress yields and approves referendum

  

  Ecuador's Congress backed Tuesday a call by President Rafael Correa for a referendum on a national assembly that would then rewrite the country's constitution.

• Monday, February 12th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Lesbians take on Santiago, Chile

  

  Feminist lesbians from 18 different countries in Latin America took to the streets of Santiago this weekend to protest against the institutionalized homophobia that still exists in many parts of the continent. About 200 lesbian activists had been participating in the Seventh Latin American and Caribbean Lesbian feminist Conference, the first to take place in Chile.