Latin America

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 16:36 UTC

  Violent Crime Replaces Unemployment as Main Concern in Latinamerica

  

  Latin America has “some of the highest criminality rates in the world” and for the first time in decades delinquency has replaced unemployment as the main concern of the population, according to a report from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights released this week.

• Tuesday, May 11th 2010 - 00:33 UTC

  Former Allies but Later Staunch Critics of Chávez Sentenced to Years of Prison

  

  A former Venezuelan defence minister who has become a staunch critic of President Hugo Chávez was sentenced to almost eight years in prison for alleged misappropriation of funds in connection with the purchase of military equipment.

• Monday, May 10th 2010 - 18:38 UTC

  Chile Embroiled in Whaling Conservation Controversy

  

  Chilean Foreign Minister, Alfredo Moreno, said that Chile will maintain a position “in favour of conservation and against whaling,” and that Chilean Ambassador Cristián Maquieira, though he now chairs the International Whaling Commission, “is not the person who represents Chile” in this forum.

• Monday, May 10th 2010 - 03:39 UTC

  UNASUR Agrees to Boost Defense Expenditure Transparency

  

  The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) agreed over the week end to boost defence expending transparency to ensure regional stability which, according to Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador is threatened by a controversial military agreement between United States and Colombia.

• Saturday, May 8th 2010 - 06:39 UTC

  Spanish Recession and Lack of Jobs Forces Latam Immigrants to Return Home

  

  More immigrants from non-European Union countries are returning to their native lands this year with help from the Spanish government, a situation similar to 2009, when the number of immigrants forced to pack up and go doubled because of the economic crisis.

• Saturday, May 8th 2010 - 06:12 UTC

  Long Experienced Politician Takes Office as Costa Rica’s First Woman President

  

  Laura Chinchilla becomes Costa Rica's first female president on Saturday, taking over at a challenging time in one of Latin America's most stable democracies. Rising poverty and insecurity in the popular eco-tourism destination and a fiscal deficit worsened by the global financial crisis are key public concerns at the start of her four-year term.

• Saturday, May 8th 2010 - 06:01 UTC

  Cuban Sugar Crop Worst in a Century; Brazilian Investors Could Take over Industry

  

  The current sugar harvest is Cuba’s worst since 1905, according to Communist Party daily Granma. The news comes two days after President Raúl Castro fired the minister responsible for the area amid increasing rumours that foreign investors will be invited to take over the industry.

• Friday, May 7th 2010 - 21:34 UTC

  Honduran President Calls Brazil “Arrogant”, Steps Down from Latam/EU Summit

  

  Honduran president Porfirio Lobo will not attend the LAC-EU summit in Spain later this month, after South American leaders who do not recognize him as his country's legitimate leader threatened to pull out. However, he will attend the EU/Central America meeting, which will be held a day later.

• Friday, May 7th 2010 - 00:44 UTC

  LAN Readies Expansion into Colombian and Brazilian Markets

  

  Chile's flagship carrier LAN Airlines S.A. (NYSE:LFL) is looking to enter the Colombian domestic passenger market by helping Colombia’s Aeroasis S.A. obtain the necessary permits to operate in the country, Chief Executive Enrique Cueto said on Thursday.

• Friday, May 7th 2010 - 00:40 UTC

  IMF Chief to visit Latin America, “Region Brimming with Energy and Promise”

  

  IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn will travel to Brazil and Peru from May 25-28 to meet with government leaders, leading figures from the private sector, and with students and academics as part of efforts to engage more closely with stakeholders in the region.