Latin America

• Wednesday, January 20th 2010 - 06:51 UTC

  Paraguay thanks Colombia for help in the release of a kidnapped rancher

  

  The Paraguayan government and the family of a liberated cattle rancher, kidnap victim of an armed group, have thanked Colombia because the aid and intelligence provided for the liberation were “decisive”, announced Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Bogotá.

• Tuesday, January 19th 2010 - 13:57 UTC

  For many Port-au-Prince residents, situation is catastrophic says Red Cross

  

  “Access to shelter, sanitation, water, food and medical care remains extremely limited,” said Riccardo Conti, the International Committee of the Red Cross, CRC head of delegation in Haiti.

• Tuesday, January 19th 2010 - 13:27 UTC

  Piñera considers a unity cabinet but faces Congressional hurdle

  

  Sebastián Piñera in his first day as Chilean president-elect anticipated he could include members of the ruling coalition Concertacion in his future cabinet.

• Tuesday, January 19th 2010 - 01:57 UTC

  Lula da Silva absent from Bolivia’s Morales taking office ceremony

  

  Brazilian president Lula da Silva will not be participating this week at Bolivia’s Evo Morales taking office ceremony. He will be represented by his foreign affairs advisor Marco Aurelio García, according to Valor Economico, a financial publication from Sao Paulo.

• Tuesday, January 19th 2010 - 01:54 UTC

  Chile’s Concha y Toro, one of the world’s top ten exporters of wine

  

  Chilean wine brand Concha y Toro increased its export volumes by 22% in 2009, according to figures released by the company over the weekend.

• Monday, January 18th 2010 - 13:37 UTC

  Haiti: Situation less chaotic but magnitude of human lives loss still unknown

  

  Up to 200,000 people are feared dead as a result of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that has destroyed much of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, according to officials. Trucks have been trying to collect the bodies that have been visible on the streets across the city for burial in mass graves outside the capital.

• Monday, January 18th 2010 - 11:46 UTC

  Conservative Piñera ends 20 years of centre-left rule in Chile

  

  Chilean billionaire Sebastián Piñera won a landmark victory in Sunday's presidential election, becoming the country’s first conservative leader since the end of the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet two decades ago.

• Saturday, January 16th 2010 - 16:04 UTC

  Mild earthquake strikes coast of Venezuela

  

  A moderate earthquake measuring struck near the coast of Venezuela Friday, the US Geological Survey said, just three days after massive quake devastated Haiti.

• Saturday, January 16th 2010 - 15:58 UTC

  NASA satellites image Haiti areas hardest hits by the earthquake

  

  NASA's considerable Earth-observing and data analysis and distribution capabilities have been mobilized to provide information to support disaster recovery efforts in Haiti after the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake.

• Saturday, January 16th 2010 - 15:43 UTC

  Haiti: World Food Program estimates it must feed one million survivors

  

  United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is appealing to the international community for 550 million US dollar to meet Haitian earthquake victims' most urgent needs. Some three million people have been affected by the quake and Red Cross officials estimate the death toll at 45,000 to 50,000. Right now, the most important priority is to get water, food and tents to the survivors.