Latin America

• Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 07:18 UTC

  Farm Exports Leading Latam Strong Recovery, Says FAO

  

  Latinamerica and the Caribbean are undergoing a strong recovery boosted mainly by agriculture exports, said José Graziano da Silva, head of FAO’s regional office in Panama, during the presentation of the Report on Agriculture and Rural Development 2010 Prospects for Latinamerica.

• Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 07:10 UTC

  Cuba Promotes Building of “Own Effort Homes” to Help With Lack of Housing

  

  Cuba began granting licenses to people to build homes “with their own effort”, an initiative approved last year by President Raúl Castro. The granting of the permits was finally approved by the National Housing Institute for people who are the owners of land, homes or other areas included in the new resolution.

• Thursday, April 29th 2010 - 06:00 UTC

  Unemployment in Santiago de Chile “Has Eased” but Stands at 10.8%

  

  The University of Chile reported Monday a Santiago unemployment rate of 10.8%. While this is higher than what it was before the international recession (when it stood at around 8%), it is two percentage points less than what it was in March of 2009.

• Wednesday, April 28th 2010 - 18:04 UTC

  Colombian Surprise: Green Party Candidate Leads Presidential Race

  

  Colombia’s Green party presidential candidate Antanas Mockus arrives for Wednesday’s night television debate as favourite following on his spectacular rise in public opinion polls.

• Wednesday, April 28th 2010 - 06:39 UTC

  Lula da Silva to Remain in Politics, Promises Caricom Trade and Political Links

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva discarded any sort of retirement once he steps down from the Executive next December 31 and underlined he will continue to act in politics.

• Wednesday, April 28th 2010 - 06:22 UTC

  Bolivian President Apologizes to Spanish Gay and Lesbian Organizations

  

  Bolivian president Evo Morales sent a letter to gay and lesbian organizations in Spain expressing respect for sexual diversity, according to the Executive’s press office and spokesperson Iván Canelas.

• Wednesday, April 28th 2010 - 05:58 UTC

  Obama Speaks for the First Time with Honduran President Lobo

  

  United States President Barack Obama spoke this week for the first time with Honduran President Lobo to discuss the situation in Honduras, said the White House.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2010 - 21:57 UTC

  IMF Warns Latam “Cheap and Abundant Credit” Rises Risk of Boom-Bust Cycle

  

  Latin American economies as a whole are recovering nicely from the global economic downturn but “cheap and abundant external finances raise the risk of a boom-bust cycle”, said Nicolas Eyzaguirre, IMF Western Hemisphere Department Director.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2010 - 02:53 UTC

  Mr. Kirchner to Be Named Chairman of UNASUR When Leaders Meet in Argentina

  

  Leaders from the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR are scheduled to meet May 3 and 4 in Buenos Aires with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner acting as host and Ecuador’s Rafael Correa as temporary chairman.

• Tuesday, April 27th 2010 - 02:47 UTC

  US Extradites Former Panamanian Leader Noriega and CIA Recruit to France

  

  The former Panamanian leader, Manuel Noriega, has been extradited to France by the United States after spending more than 20 years in a prison there.