Latin America

Tuesday, February 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
El Niño subsides: fishermen celebrate, farmers fear drought

By next May the “El Niño” phenomenon, which warms the Pacific Ocean by an average of 1.5 degrees Celsius (3.5 degrees Fahrenheit), will have completely disappeared.
While Chile's fishing industry utters a loud sigh of relief ÃÂ¢€“ cooler water means larger catches ÃÂ¢€” the departure of El Niño could cause severe problems for the agricultural sector, which may be facing drought.
Tuesday, February 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Ecuador to repair roads system with funds to repay creditors

Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa declared Tuesday a national roads system emergency and ordered the Army to begin the construction and maintenance of the country's road network to be financed with funds originally destined to honor foreign debt payments.
Tuesday, February 27th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
CIA believes Raul Castro is consolidating as Fidel's successor

The United States government said Tuesday that Raul Castro has consolidated as successor of his brother since last July and admitted that in the event of Fidel's death there will not be an
immediate “positive change”.
Monday, February 26th 2007 - 21:00 UTC
Chavez preparing for conflict with US plans to buy 9 subs

Venezuela is currently negotiating with European and Russian companies the purchase of nine submarines valued in three billion US dollars for the event of “an attack from United States”, report several South American newspapers.
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.