Latin America

• Monday, January 11th 2010 - 12:46 UTC

  China will construct Bolivia’s first satellite; Morales travels to Beijing

  

  Bolivian president Evo Morales will be travelling to China next March to sign an agreement for the construction and launching of the country’s first telecommunications satellite, reported Bolivian government sources on Sunday.

• Saturday, January 9th 2010 - 14:18 UTC

  Chavez devalues Bolivar, establishes dual exchange rate

  

  Venezuela devalued on Friday the official exchange rate of the Bolivar currency for the first time since March 2005, and created a second exchange rate for non-essential imports, to stimulate exports and close a fiscal deficit.

• Saturday, January 9th 2010 - 14:01 UTC

  Mr. Bean, the Spanish EU presidency and the next six months

  

  Spanish diplomacy, authorities and the press have repeatedly insisted, with a certain degree of optimism, that with Madrid holding the six-month presidency of the EU, Latinamerica will be a priority.

• Saturday, January 9th 2010 - 13:58 UTC

  Peruvian president anticipates “electoral crisis” but promises stability

  

  Peruvian president Alan García forecasted an “electoral crisis” in 2010 because of the political appetites of the opposition, but promised Peru will successfully overcome the situation it as it has done with the global economic turbulences.

• Saturday, January 9th 2010 - 13:52 UTC

  Chile to test first deep-water salmon farming project

  

  A new system for deep-water salmon farming is planned to rock the waters of Chile and Latin America.

• Saturday, January 9th 2010 - 13:45 UTC

  Morales chooses former Miss Bolivia to run for governor in opposition stronghold

  

  Former Miss Bolivia Jessica Jordan, 24, accepted an invitation from President Evo Morales to run for governor of Beni province as a member of his Movement Toward Socialism party in April 4 regional elections.

• Saturday, January 9th 2010 - 13:30 UTC

  Almost 500 Cuban doctors defected to the US while serving in Venezuela

  

  Around 500 Cuban doctors have defected to the United States while serving on aid missions in Venezuela, according to members of Cuban exile groups in Miami. The latest case occurred this week when seven Cuban physicians managed to leave Caracas’ Maiquetia International Airport, after being held there for several hours and after paying hundreds of dollars each to officials.

• Saturday, January 9th 2010 - 08:23 UTC

  Central Bank of Chile is releasing a new 10,000 Pesos note

  

  After 20 years in circulation, the current 10,000 Chilean peso bill will be replaced this coming year, courtesy of commercial banks.

• Friday, January 8th 2010 - 12:49 UTC

  Barrick Gold mine project threatens glaciers claims Chilean government

  

  Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold, the owner of what would be Chile’s largest gold mine, Pascua Lama, could face legal sanctions after Chile’s national water commission (DGA) reported that the company is failing to comply with Chile’s environmental laws.

• Friday, January 8th 2010 - 06:48 UTC

  Latinamerica’s 2009 trade contracts 24% in value, the worst since 1973

  

  Latinamerica and Caribbean exports plunged 24% in value last year compared to 2008 because of the international crisis, according to the latest estimates from the United Nations Economic Commission for Latinamerica and the Caribbean, Cepal, released Thursday in Santiago de Chile.