Latin America

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

  Mexican tycoon wins contract in Panama Canal expansion

  A consortium led by Mexican billionaire tycoon Carlos Slim posted the cheapest bid on Wednesday to win the latest small contract to expand the Panama Canal, part of the wider 5.25 billion US dollars project.

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

  Lack of gas plunges economic activity in Punta Arenas 22.2%

  Argentina's natural gas supply restrictions to the Chilean extreme south region of Magallanes forced a drastic collapse of economic activity and exports, during the third quarter according to official data from the Santiago Statistics Office, INE.

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

  Prez Chavez calls Spain's King arrogant after spat

  

  President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday he hopes a spat with Spanish King Juan Carlos doesn't spiral into a diplomatic crisis but that Venezuela doesn't need Spanish investment.

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

  Chile supports existing multilateral financial institutions

  Chile's government ratified its purchase of 50 million US dollars in shares from Corporacion Andina de Fomento, the Andean region development agency known as CAF, El Mercurio reported.

• Sunday, November 11th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  “People Summit” Concludes in Santiago de Chile

  

  Chile's Summit for Friendship and Integration of the Latin-American People, popularly known as the People's Summit, culminated Saturday with an event that brought together Bolivian President Evo Morales, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, and Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage. Speaking to a crowd of roughly 3,000 spectators, the four leaders emphasized unity among Latin American nations–particularly against the hegemony of U.S. capitalism—as the key to constructing the region's future.

• Saturday, November 10th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Chávez calls for energy alliance at the Latam leaders summit

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez challenged Latin American leaders at a summit yesterday to lower regional oil prices, telling big producers to sell oil cheaply to their neighbors.

• Friday, November 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  UN Ban highlights development and social cohesion values

  

  The struggle for economic development, the need to do more to tackle climate change and the value of greater social cohesion were all spotlighted by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as he traveled to Chile, the second stop on his tour to South America.

• Friday, November 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  High ozone levels over Santiago linked to pneumonia rates

  

  Recent Chilean Health Ministry study found ozone levels in the northeast parts of greater Santiago higher than normal during 180 days this year. The study also linked the high levels of ozone in Santiago's atmosphere with increased rates of pneumonia.

• Friday, November 9th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean support for UK in Falklands '82, “things of the past”

  

  Chile's Deputy Foreign Affairs minister Alberto Van Klaveren described the support given by the regime of General Augusto Pinochet to Britain during the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas conflict as “things of the past”.

• Thursday, November 8th 2007 - 20:00 UTC

  Chilean scientists after funds for Antarctic research

  

  Chile's Institute of Antarctica (INACH) has proposed a US$4 million microorganism research project for the increasingly disputed Antarctica. If funding is approved, Chilean scientists can look forward to spending the next four years on the icy continent.