Latin America

• Thursday, January 10th 2013 - 11:56 UTC

  In a highly political speech CFK appealed to the motherland and blasted hedge funds

  

  President Cristina Fernandez (CFK) as expected made the welcoming ceremony for the Argentine frigate ARA Libertad (retained in Ghana for 78 days) into a ‘sovereignty and dignity’ political rally including the support of 20.000 militants, mostly bused in by political organizations, in which she blasted hedge funds, ‘global social predators’ and warned that through extortion and force nobody is going to obtain anything from Argentina.

• Thursday, January 10th 2013 - 03:54 UTC

  Brazilian corporations fearful of Venezuelan situation despite Brasilia support for Maduro

  

  Brazilian corporations with strong interests in Venezuela have expressed concern about the future of the country and its impact on Mercosur if the political transition, because of President Hugo Chavez health condition, does not follow the constitutional process

• Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 19:46 UTC

  Venezuela top court endorses inauguration postponement; massive ‘legitimization’ rally on Thursday

  

  Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal constitutional chamber endorsed the postponement of Hugo Chavez inauguration scheduled for Thursday and ruled that the cancer-stricken leader remained as the constitutional president of the country since he was re-re-elected and was granted a leave of absence for medical reasons by the National Assembly.

• Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 18:19 UTC

  Paraguay admits defeat to dengue and declares national epidemics alert

  

  The mosquito transmitted dengue disease can’t be eradicated, but only controlled at least this tropical summer admitted Paraguayan health officials after extending the national epidemics alert to the whole territory of the landlocked country.

• Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 05:35 UTC

  Venezuelan government postpones inauguration because of Chavez health problems

  

  Venezuela will postpone Thursday's presidential inauguration due to President Hugo Chávez' continuing health problems, the government announced on Tuesday. Chavez who has dominated Venezuelan politics almost undisputedly since 1999 has not been heard from or seen in public since his Dec. 11 cancer surgery in Cuba.

• Wednesday, January 9th 2013 - 05:32 UTC

  US says Chavez succession is an issue for Venezuelans to decide and must include all voices

  

  The United States is concerned for the health of President Hugo Chavez and wishing a speedy recovery, but the succession situation in Venezuela “is an issue for Venezuelans to decide” and it should be done in a manner “that includes all the voices in the discussion”, said State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland on Tuesday.

• Tuesday, January 8th 2013 - 07:19 UTC

  Chavez “virtual taking office” next Thursday in Caracas with leaders from friendly countries

  

  The Venezuelan government is organizing a massive turnout for Thursday January 10 in support of re-re-elected president Hugo Chavez with the attendance of several Latinamerican leaders in what has been described as a “virtual taking office” ceremony.

• Tuesday, January 8th 2013 - 06:58 UTC

  Chile government spending rate below the economy’s performance for second year running

  

  Government expenditure in Chile expanded an estimated 5% last year while the economy grew 5.5%, making it the second consecutive year in which the economy outperforms outlays.

• Tuesday, January 8th 2013 - 00:49 UTC

  Cristina Fernandez flies Jan 10 to Havana in support of Chavez and Maduro

  

  The Argentine government confirmed on Monday that President Cristina Fernandez would be flying on Thursday to Cuba to visit her Venezuelan peer Hugo Chavez, fighting for his life after a fourth cancer surgery with complications, and on the day which he should be taking office after October’s re-re-election.

• Tuesday, January 8th 2013 - 00:21 UTC

  Venezuelan Catholic Church calls for constitutional respect on inauguration day

  

  Venezuela’s Catholic Church issued a veiled warning to the government on Monday against overriding the constitution by delaying cancer-stricken Hugo Chavez's inauguration for a new term as president.