Latin America

• Tuesday, June 21st 2011 - 16:04 UTC

  Chile’s volcanic ash cloud again visits Australasia forcing grounding of air traffic

  

  A volcanic ash cloud, which originated in Chile on 4 June and has caused significant disruption to air travel around Australia and New Zealand since 12 June returned on Tuesday to Australasia forcing further cancellations for at the least the next 48 hours.

• Tuesday, June 21st 2011 - 07:52 UTC

  Andean Aymará people celebrate the coming of New Year 5519

  

  Accompanied by Andean highlands rituals in the citadel of Tiwanacu, to the north of Bolivia’s capital La Paz the indigenous Aymará will celebrate on Tuesday the coming of the Aymará New Year, 5519.

• Tuesday, June 21st 2011 - 04:45 UTC

  Chilean court suspends controversial hydroelectric complex in Patagonia

  

  A Chilean court on Monday ordered the suspension of a project to build a complex of five hydroelectric dams in the Patagonian wilderness, bowing to appeals by lawmakers and environmental groups.

• Tuesday, June 21st 2011 - 02:24 UTC

  “With a few drops of its reveres, China can finance Ecuador’s development”

  

  Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa said China has one of the largest liquid international reserves in the world and could with “a few drops” finance the development of his country and the whole of Latin America.

• Monday, June 20th 2011 - 21:26 UTC

  Iran and Cuba, two of the most repressive countries for journalists, says CPJ

  

  Nearly 70 journalists were forced into exile over the past 12 months, with more than half coming from Iran and Cuba, two of the world's most repressive nations, a new survey by the Committee to Protect Journalists has found.

• Monday, June 20th 2011 - 20:18 UTC

  Unasur forecasts greater role for Latam in new international order

  

  A new global order is emerging as a result of the world crisis and recession in developed countries and Latin America has a crucial role to play given its very satisfactory economic performance in recent years, said Unasur Secretary General Maria Emma Mejia.

• Monday, June 20th 2011 - 05:43 UTC

  Chilean government sells water utility stock raises 984 million USD

  

  The Chilean Economic Development Agency (CORFO) raised US$984 million last week by selling its 29.98% stake in the country’s main water utility, Aguas Andinas SA.

• Monday, June 20th 2011 - 05:37 UTC

  Chilean volcanic ash cloud affects flights in South Africa

  

  The ash cloud from the Chilean Volcano Puyehue-Cordón Caulle in eruption since June 4 has reached Cape Town airspace affecting flights in and out of Cape Town International Airport.

• Saturday, June 18th 2011 - 03:19 UTC

  In milestone vote UN Human Rights Council approves gay rights

  

  Despite strong opposition from Arab and African states, the UN Human Rights Council voted 23-19 in favor of a history-making resolution that supports equal rights for everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Saturday, June 18th 2011 - 01:04 UTC

  Uruguayan lawmakers mark the difference between “terrorism” and “armed insurgency”

  

  A group of Uruguayan lawmakers have written a letter to Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala requesting a more humane treatment for Victor Polay Campos, head of the guerrilla Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, MRTA, jailed since 1992.