Latin America

Tuesday, September 28th 2010 - 04:52 UTC
Spain presents draconian budget with unemployment remaining above 19%

Spain presented a tough 2011 budget, deepening an austerity drive and taxing the rich more heavily as it seeks to boost confidence in a fragile economy ahead of a general strike.
Tuesday, September 28th 2010 - 04:46 UTC
Chilean Air Force begins to receive 18 refurbished f-16 fighters

This week Holland will be delivering 18 refurbished F-16 fighter bombers to the Chilean Air Force. The Dutch Defence ministry said the ceremony will take place at the Leeuwarden base when Lex Hendrichs, head of Dutch Defence Material will be symbolically handing his Chilean peer Jorge Rojas a scale model of the US manufactured aircraft.
Tuesday, September 28th 2010 - 01:51 UTC
IMF mandatory surveillance of 25 countries, 90% of the world financial system

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved making financial stability assessments under the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) a regular and mandatory part of the Fund’s surveillance for members with systemically important financial sectors.
Tuesday, September 28th 2010 - 00:59 UTC
Plans to farm Patagonian toothfish in the extreme south of Chile

The University of Magallanes in the extreme south of Chile have developed an innovative project to start farming Patagonian toothfish or Chilean sea bass (Dissostichus eleginoides) in the region.
Monday, September 27th 2010 - 14:48 UTC
Chavez looses two thirds majority in Congress, but remains leading figure

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez suffered a serious setback last Sunday when he lost his two-thirds majority in the National Assembly reflecting increasing disenchantment with the charismatic leader and his administration’s failures and pose a great challenge for his 2012 re-election aspirations.
Saturday, September 25th 2010 - 04:57 UTC
Chilean government cornered by Day 75 of Mapuche hunger strike

There is no resolution in sight for the Chilean indigenous Mapuche hunger strike. On Day 75, the health of the 34 prisoners is in danger. Eight have been hospitalized, with one needing surgery for appendicitis.
Friday, September 24th 2010 - 07:07 UTC
Venezuela’s Communes: Not as Radical as You Might Think

by COHA Research Associate Geoff LeGrand - Under President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela has been no stranger to controversy. However, one of Chávez’s proposals has evoked particularly strong emotions – the establishment of socialist communes (comunas socialistas) throughout the country. The proposed commune law (ley orgánica de las comunas) would further expand and institutionalize Venezuela’s system of communal councils – local municipal governing bodies that are ruled by neighborhood leaders using state funds to finance social projects in their communities.
Friday, September 24th 2010 - 03:15 UTC
Research lab in extreme south Chile “cautious” about recovery of the ozone layer

Last September 17 and for two days the ozone layer hole recorded a minor event over the city of Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile, although not sufficiently weak as to have recorded an increase in potentially dangerous ultraviolet radiation.
Friday, September 24th 2010 - 02:46 UTC
Top journalism awards for Mexican photographer and Argentine reporter

A Mexican photographer who documented his country's drug war and an Argentine reporter who wrote about identifying the victims of Argentina's military dictatorship were awarded this week one of Latin America's most prestigious journalism awards.
Friday, September 24th 2010 - 01:19 UTC
Colombian forces kill FARC top military commander and capture main camp

The number two leader of the Colombian FARC guerrilla group has been killed in a military raid, President Juan Manuel Santos said Thursday. Victor Julio Suarez Rojas, also known as Jorge Briceño Suarez and by his nom de guerre Mono Jojoy, was the military leader for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia.
Santos called the rebel leader's death a “historic” event.