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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, April 24th 2024 - 05:33 UTC

Latin America

  • Tuesday, September 1st 2009 - 12:28 UTC

    Chile launches trucks’ scrappage plan to boost economy and fight pollution

    The plan is geared to remove 500 trucks over 25 years old

    The Chilean government will subsidize the purchase of more fuel-efficient trucks for citizens through a program set to start later this year. The program, called “Cambia tu Camión,” or “Change your Truck,” will offer a bonus of 4, 8 or 12 million pesos (7.200, 14.500 or 21.700 US dollars respectively), toward the purchase of a new, more fuel efficient car, with the trade-in of a truck over 25 years old.

  • Tuesday, September 1st 2009 - 00:25 UTC

    Between 1.600 and 1.700 vessels cross the Magellan Strait annually

    The Chilean navy operates in a vast area in the southern seas

    An estimated 1.600 to 1.700 vessels cross the strategic Magellan Strait annually according to the Chilean Navy that last week celebrated the 161th anniversary of its patrolling task along the country’s coastline of almost 6.500 kilometres.

  • Monday, August 31st 2009 - 12:16 UTC

    Falkland/Malvinas experience repeatedly recalled in Unasur summit

    Ecuador’s Correa recalled US disavowal in 1982 of a regional assistance treaty

    South American leaders “frank and crude” debate last week on the controversial agreement to deploy US forces in seven Colombian bases brought back memories and experiences of the Falkland Islands war between Argentina and Britain in 1982.

  • Monday, August 31st 2009 - 12:14 UTC

    Listeriosis strikes Chile again, claims nine victims

    This is the second outbreak in Chile since 2008; last year’s disease was tracked to contaminated cheese

    Listeriosis, a food-borne bacterial disease, has claimed nine lives and infected 45 in Chile so far in 2009, health authorities confirmed this week. The disease, which stems from the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, is often borne from contaminated water and foods and usually infects pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with auto-immune diseases.

  • Monday, August 31st 2009 - 08:00 UTC

    Third “expedition cruise” vessel for Australis from Punta Arenas

    “Stella Australis” will carry 210 passengers along the Patagonia fiords

    The Chilean cruise company Cruceros Australis which operates from Punta Arenas is having a third vessel built in Valdivia which should be operational for the 2010/2011 season, according to Branco Ivelic, manager of Cruise Operations.

  • Monday, August 31st 2009 - 07:31 UTC

    Uribe avoided condemnation in Bariloche but could not escape H1N1 flu

    The Colombian president showed the first symptoms on the return flight.

    Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has the H1N1 virus, according to official sources. The Presidency's Information and Press Secretary of Colombia, César Mauricio Velásquez, read an official release Sunday saying that Uribe has the virus, while National Health Institute sources from Bogotá confirmed the diagnosis. Social Welfare Minister Diego Palacio said Uribe is responding well to treatment.

  • Sunday, August 30th 2009 - 22:28 UTC

    China's Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean

    On November 5, 2008, the Chinese government released a policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean, as it had previously done so for Europe in 2003 and for Africa in 2006.

  • Saturday, August 29th 2009 - 10:01 UTC

    Chile has the lowest inflation rate in Latinamerica

    Venezuela is at the other end of the list with 15% inflation in seven months

    International banking authorities reported this week that Chile has the lowest inflation of any Latin American country, with an accumulated rate of -1.2% through July.

  • Saturday, August 29th 2009 - 09:38 UTC

    HMS Gloucester begins Monday a two-week visit to Chile

    The Type 42 destroyer comes from months of patrolling in South Atlantic and Falklands waters

    HMS Gloucester is expected next Monday in the port of Valparaiso where she will remain until September 14 as part of a program to reaffirm the close professional links with the Chilean Navy. It will also be an opportunity for the crew to rest and recover after spending months in South Atlantic patrolling.

  • Saturday, August 29th 2009 - 08:35 UTC

    Unasur summit finally agrees on a diluted catch-all statement

    In spite of tense moments the summit tabled by Cristina Kirchner had all twelve presidents round an only table (Photo EFE)

    The much announced Union of South American Nations Friday presidential summit in Argentina finally issued a statement warning “foreign military forces” against threatening the sovereignty and integrity of any South American country and “in consequence regional peace and stability”.