Latin America

• Wednesday, June 30th 2010 - 20:55 UTC

  Cuban president sacks another (inefficient) minister: Light Industry

  

  Cuban president Raul Castro sacked Light Industry minister Jose Hermandez, the latest of an on-going cabinet reshuffle with the purpose of implanting a policy of import-substitution to address the growing economic crisis.

• Wednesday, June 30th 2010 - 20:50 UTC

  Otters in southern Chile help contain invasion of exotic mink

  

  With its pert face and furry coat, the slender mink looks like a charming pet. But beneath the sweet façade lies an opportunistic predator that has become a menace to biodiversity in the southern parts of Chile.

• Tuesday, June 29th 2010 - 05:13 UTC

  Punta Arenas planning International Antarctic Centre

  

  Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile and seat of the country’s Antarctic Institute will have a new complex that will include the Institute’s offices, research laboratories and a museum dedicated to Chile’s strong and long presence in Antarctica.

• Tuesday, June 29th 2010 - 05:09 UTC

  Lion’s share of the drugs business goes to final distributors, says UN expert

  

  The lion’s share (85%) of the gross profits from the cocaine business between South America and the United States ends in the wholesale and retail distribution network in the US according to Antonio Luigi Mazzitelli, head of the UN office on Drugs and Crime for Mexico and Central America.

• Monday, June 28th 2010 - 05:48 UTC

  Chile has become a producer and exporter of premium Wagyu (Kobe) beef

  

  The traditional rivalry between Chile and Argentina is likely to be turned up a notch with the news that Chile could be soon challenging its meat-famous neighbour with the quality of its beef.

• Saturday, June 26th 2010 - 07:41 UTC

  Investing in Panama: An exclusive Report from Alternative Latin Investor

  

  Alternative Latin Investor (ALI), the first and only online news source to provide information on alternative investments in Latin America, has just released an in-depth report on the Panamanian investment environment.

• Saturday, June 26th 2010 - 05:32 UTC

  Ecuador removed from list of countries that do not combat money-laundering

  

  Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa said on Friday his country had been removed from an international blacklist of countries who fail to comply with standards against money-laundering and terrorism financing.

• Saturday, June 26th 2010 - 05:01 UTC

  BP considering sales of assets in Argentina

  

  British Petroleum, BP, is actively considering the sale of its stake in Pan American Energy LLC, Argentina's fastest growing oil and gas company, according to oil industry sources quoted in the Buenos Aires press.

• Friday, June 25th 2010 - 21:59 UTC

  In seven years Asia became Chile’s main trade partner: absorbs 48% of exports

  

  Between January and May of 2010, Chile shipped approximately 12.7 billion US dollars in commodities to Asia; in this five-month span, 83% of Asia-bound exports were sent to China, Japan, and South Korea.

• Friday, June 25th 2010 - 05:38 UTC

  Venezuela plans to nationalize a fleet of oil rigs from US corporation

  

  Venezuela will nationalize a fleet of oil rigs belonging to US Company Helmerich and Payne, the latest takeover in a push to XXI century Socialism announced President Hugo Chávez as he struggles with lower oil output and a recession.